NASA Lean Testing
Objective Testing for Orthostatic Intolerance
At Workwell Foundation, we are now offering the NASA 10-Minute Lean Test, an evidence-based assessment used to identify orthostatic intolerance(OI). OI is a common but often overlooked condition in which the body has difficulty tolerating upright posture, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and exercise intolerance.
Originally adapted from research conducted by NASA, we use this simple, non-invasive test to evaluate how your autonomic nervous system responds to upright posture. The results provide objective data that can help explain symptoms and guide next steps in care.
What Is the NASA 10-Minute Lean Test?
The NASA Lean Test measures how your body regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and symptoms while standing. During the test, you stand in a supported position for up to 10 minutes while vital signs and symptoms are carefully monitored.
Unlike routine vital sign checks, this test is designed to detect abnormal physiological responses to upright posture that may not appear during brief exams or while lying down.
Why does NASA Lean Testing Matter?
Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is a condition in which the body has difficulty tolerating upright posture. When standing, the autonomic nervous system does not regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow properly, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, brain fog, palpitations, or feeling unwell that improve when sitting or lying down.
Orthostatic intolerance can significantly impair daily function and contribute to disability, especially when it goes unrecognized. Many people are told their results appear normal during routine evaluations, even though their symptoms consistently worsen when standing.
In everyday life, OI may affect common activities in ways such as:
- Feeling dizzy or unwell while standing in line
- Struggling to shower or prepare a meal
- Needing to sit or lie down frequently
- Experiencing fatigue and brain fog after activities that require standing
Over time, these limitations can affect work, independence, and quality of life.
Identifying OI matters because it is often treatable once diagnosed. The NASA Lean Test provides objective, reproducible data that can help guide individualized treatment strategies, support clinical decision-making, and improve quality of life.
What does the NASA Lean Test Measure?
The NASA 10-Minute Lean Test evaluates how your body responds to upright posture by measuring:
- Heart rate changes during sustained standing
- Blood pressure responses to upright posture
- Symptom patterns that emerge while standing
These measurements allow our team to identify patterns consistent with:
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): A condition marked by an excessive increase in heart rate when standing, often accompanied by dizziness, fatigue, and brain fog.
- Orthostatic Hypotension (OH): A significant drop in blood pressure upon standing that can cause lightheadedness, weakness, or fainting.
- Orthostatic Hypertension (OHT): An abnormal rise in blood pressure when standing, which may contribute to headache, chest discomfort, or other symptoms.
- Neurally Mediated Hypotension (NMH): A delayed drop in blood pressure during prolonged standing due to abnormal nervous system signaling.
- Other Forms of Autonomic Dysfunction: Conditions in which the autonomic nervous system does not properly regulate heart rate, blood pressure, or circulation.
Who May Benefit from the NASA Lean Test
The NASA 10-Minute Lean Test may be helpful for individuals with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, long COVID, or related conditions who experience symptoms that worsen when standing.
This includes people who notice:
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Fatigue or post-exertional symptoms
- Brain fog or slowed thinking
- Palpitations or rapid heart rate
- Temperature changes or color changes in the hands or feet
- Improvement in symptoms when lying down
What to Expect During NASA Lean Testing
The NASA 10-Minute Lean Test is a non-invasive, well-tolerated assessment performed under close monitoring. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities, and our trained staff guides you throughout the process.
We carefully document your experience as part of the evaluation. The goal is to observe how your heart rate, blood pressure, and symptoms respond to upright posture over time.
The testing process includes:
- Preparation: You will rest quietly, lying down for 5-10 minutes while baseline heart rate and blood pressure are recorded.
- Transition to Standing: You will then stand and lean against a wall, with your shoulder blades touching and your heels positioned about six inches away. This supported position helps minimize muscle activation while maintaining upright posture.
- Monitoring period: Heart rate and blood pressure are recorded at regular intervals for up to 10 minutes. You will also be asked to report symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations, or discomfort as they occur.
- Observation & Safety: The test is stopped immediately if you feel faint or unwell. Your responses are documented throughout to ensure your safety and the accuracy of results.
After testing, we review your results to determine whether your physiological responses are consistent with orthostatic intolerance and whether further evaluation or treatment planning may be helpful.
Schedule Your NASA Lean Test Today
Appointments for the NASA 10-Minute Lean Test are now available at Workwell Foundation.
To schedule the NASA Lean Test or learn more about it, contact us online.