Peripheral microvascular reactivity might be easily challenged in vivo by postural modifications. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and photoplethysmography (PPG) are two well-known noninvasive optical technologies capable of providing reliable, continuous flow recordings by using different wavelengths to quantify perfusion at different levels of the dermal vascular networks. Our aim was to compare the bilateral vascular response to a leg lowering maneuver using both LDF and PPG. Ten subjects (both sexes, 26.0 ± 5.0 years old), were selected after informed written consent. The challenge maneuver consisted in three phases – 10 min baseline record keeping both legs at heart level; 10 min, with one leg being lowered 50 cm below heart level (provocation); 10 min recovery with both legs returning to the initial position. Relevant variables were flood flow, obtained by LDF and PPG on both feet toes, O2 transcutaneous (tc) pressure by gasimetry, in the lowered limb, and heart rate, calculated from the PPG signal. The LDF signal was decomposed into its main components (cardiac, respiratory, myogenic, sympathetic and endothelial) with the wavelet transform. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for phase comparisons (p<0.05). During the leg lowering both LDF and PPG signal amplitudes decreased significantly on both feet, suggesting a vasoconstrictive response of the dermal vascular network at different depths. The venoarterial reflex explains the vasoconstriction occurring on the lowered foot but, in the unmoved foot a centrally-mediated reflex might be involved. tcpO2 increased significantly during leg lowering, suggesting that the temperature of the probe cancelled the VAR on the measurement region. Heart rate did not change significantly throughout the maneuver. Significant differences were found for the local components of the LDF signal on the lowered foot, suggestive of the involvement of local regulatory mechanisms. In conclusion, this study seems to confirm the usefulness of this model to assess peripheral microcirculation.