Heated environment influences blood pressure responses and postural balance during initial orthostasis

The first seconds of orthostasis (ORT) are characterized by a transient drop in blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood flow, along with an increased postural sway, described by center of pressure (COP) oscillations. Due to thermoregulatory mechanisms of skin vasodilation, heat stress (HOT) provokes an additive effect on cardiovascular autonomic control by challenging BP regulation during ORT. However, the effects of HOT on hemodynamic and postural control responses during ORT onset remain unclear.