Don't be an e-clot - move!

Computer users worried about blood clots can easily avoid the problem by moving around, the Society of Physiotherapists says.

New Zealand medical researchers on Wednesday warned that people who spend long hours sitting at a computer screen risk developing life-threatening blood clots.

Dubbed "e-thrombosis", the disorder was reported in the European Respiratory Journal by a group of researchers.

They described a 32-year-old man who almost died after developing a massive blood clot.

The clot formed in his leg veins and travelled to his lungs.

The man spent up to 18 hours a day working at his computer, the report said.

The Society of Physiotherapists president, Kirsten Davie, said yesterday that the man might have avoided the problem simply by standing up and walking around occasionally.

"Every half hour or so, get up and move around," she said.

"You don't have to stop work, just do some other aspect of your job which involves movement for a little while.

"Walk across to a filing cabinet or down to the photocopier, or whatever is suitable to your job.

"The idea is to get those large calf and thigh muscles working to pump the blood around your body, oxygenating and feeding all your muscles.

"This has the added benefit of enriching the little muscles you use at the keyboard, helping to prevent occupational overuse-type conditions."

Vigorous foot pumping and leg lifting every hour or so would also help pump the blood around the body, Ms Davie said.

- NZPA

Herald feature: Health