Buerger-Allen Exercises and Peripheral Circulation in Sedentary Office Workers

NCT07588893 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: IGU-FTR-BAE-2026-0012209A-2025Fall-Submitted
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 35
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the acute effects of Buerger-Allen exercises on lower extremity circulation in sedentary office workers. Prolonged sitting is associated with reduced venous return, impaired peripheral circulation, and endothelial dysfunction. Buerger-Allen exercises are simple position-based exercises designed to enhance arterial blood flow, venous return, and tissue perfusion. Thirty-five healthy sedentary adults aged 18 to 45 years will participate in this single-group pretest-posttest clinical trial. Skin surface temperature, capillary refill time, ankle-brachial index, peripheral oxygen saturation, and heart rate will be measured before and after a single 20-minute exercise session. The findings may support the use of Buerger-Allen exercises as a practical, low-cost physiotherapy strategy to improve peripheral circulation and reduce the adverse vascular effects of prolonged sitting.

Conditions

Peripheral Circulation; Vascular Function; Sedentary Behavior

Keywords

Buerger-Allen Exercise; Peripheral Circulation; Sedentary Behavior; Office Workers; Capillary Refill Time; Ankle-Brachial Index; Infrared Thermography; Physiotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Skin Surface Temperature

  Skin surface temperature measured with an infrared thermometer in degrees Celsius (°C). Higher values indicate increased peripheral blood flow and tissue perfusion.

  Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention

• Capillary Refill Time

  Capillary refill time measured in seconds. Shorter times indicate improved peripheral microcirculation and tissue perfusion.

  Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

  Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention

• Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)

  Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention

• Heart Rate

  Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention

Study Arms (1)

Buerger-Allen Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform a single standardized 20-minute Buerger-Allen exercise session. Lower extremity circulatory parameters will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 10 minutes after the intervention.

Behavioral: Buerger-Allen Exercise Program

Interventions

Buerger-Allen Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

The intervention consists of a standardized Buerger-Allen exercise protocol involving three sequential positions: (1) elevation of the lower limbs above heart level to facilitate venous return, (2) dependency of the lower limbs to promote arterial blood flow, and (3) horizontal supine rest to stabilize circulation. The complete exercise session lasts approximately 20 minutes and is performed once. Lower extremity circulatory parameters are assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 10 minutes after the intervention.

Buerger-Allen Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy sedentary office workers
• Age between 18 and 45 years
• Sitting for at least 6 hours per day for work-related activities
• Not meeting regular physical activity recommendations
• Willing to participate voluntarily and provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis, or other vascular disorders
• Cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal conditions that may affect lower extremity circulation or prevent exercise participation
• Diabetes mellitus
• Current smoking
• Pregnancy
• Use of medications that may significantly affect peripheral circulation
• Lower extremity injury or surgery within the previous 6 months
• Participation in regular structured exercise programs

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Gelisim University: lead

Study Sites (1)

İstanbul Gelisim University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Busenur KARAGÖZ, MSc

  İstanbul Gelisim University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Busenur KARAGÖZ, MSc

CONTACT

+90 534 062 71 24; buse.nur97e@gmail.com

Gökay ÇAKIROĞLU, PT

CONTACT

+90 542 519 42 55; gcakiroglu@gelisim.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Model Details: All participants will undergo a single standardized Buerger-Allen exercise session. Lower extremity circulatory parameters will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 10 minutes after the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 9, 2026
• First Posted: May 15, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)