Fasciotomy, Chronic Venous Insufficiency, and the Calf Muscle Pump

Objective: To evaluate accurately the calf muscle pump in patients with venous insufficiency using foot vein pressure measurements during three different exercises. Design: Prospective study in three groups, comparing patients with venous disease with controls. Setting: Second Department of Surgery, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine. Patients: Twenty normal legs, 29 legs previously affected by deep vein thrombosis and 36 legs with primary varicose veins. Main outcome measures: The foot vein pressure was measured during ankle dorsiflexions, knee-bending and walking on the spot at 40 paces per minute during which minimum ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) and venous refilling time (VRT) were assessed. Results: The three groups differed significantly from each other in AVP and VRT after dorsiflexion and in AVP during walking on the spot, but not after knee-bending. Conclusion: Dorsiflexion is the most useful exercise distinguishing various severities of venous insufficiency, but walking on the spot is more useful for accurately evaluating the calf muscle pump.

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Air Plethysmography: a Critical Evaluation of the Technique in Patients with CVI

Phlebologie ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1617316 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 28 (01) ◽

pp. 7-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

L. E. G. Bossuyt ◽

H. A. M. Neumann

Keyword(s):

Clinical Evaluation ◽

Clinical Assessment ◽

Venous Insufficiency ◽

Critical Evaluation ◽

Calf Muscle ◽

Venous Disease ◽

Light Reflection ◽

Muscle Pump ◽

Calf Muscle Pump ◽

Air Plethysmography

SummaryAir plethysmography (APG) was compared with clinical assessment and light reflection rheography (LRR) in 68 patients with venous insufficiency (129 limbs). The aim of this study was to investigate the possibilities and limitations of this device for general phlebological practice. Out of the 68 patients, 9 were not able to perform the total investigation protocol (13%). The reflux measurement and the ejection capacity of the calf muscle pump correlated well with severe venous disease, but poorly with mild or absent signs of venous insufficiency. Abnormal refill time measured with LRR was in accordance in 82% with increased reflux with APG. A normal refill time was only correlated in 60% of the cases with a normal reflux APG test. It was not possible to distinguish between deep and superficial insufficiency. It is concluded that APG did not turn out to be the handy method for quick and accurate screening of venous insufficiency patients. Its place in the clinical evaluation for venous patients is not yet clear.

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Calf Muscle Pump Stimulation as a Means to Reduce Symptoms of Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Biological Research For Nursing ◽

10.1177/1099800414546893 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 334-339 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lynn M. Baniak ◽

Carolyn S. Pierce ◽

Erik Hiester ◽

Kenneth J. McLeod

Keyword(s):

Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Calf Muscle ◽

Attrition Rate ◽

Widespread Pain ◽

Muscle Pump ◽

Calf Muscle Pump ◽

Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire ◽

Change In Mean ◽

Quiet Sitting

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating chronic condition that often affects women in midlife with widespread pain that interrupts attempts to exercise. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the efficacy of calf muscle pump (CMP) stimulation as an adjuvant therapy for FM by (1) assessing the correlation of the level of symptoms, as measured by the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), and blood pressure (BP), (2) measuring change in mean FIQR scores for subjects who use a CMP-stimulation device for 12 weeks, and (3) measuring the correlation of total device usage and the level of symptoms as measured by the FIQR. The 29 male and female participants (mean age = 47.3 years) were screened using the Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Symptom Severity (SS) score, and the FIQR. Participants were contacted weekly, and progress was assessed using the WPI, SS score, and the FIQR as well as general questions regarding responses to CMP stimulation. The attrition rate was high, which is not uncommon in studies of patients with FM. We found that diastolic BP was significantly inversely correlated with baseline FIQR scores during quiet sitting. Further, 12 weeks of CMP stimulation was associated with significant improvement in average FIQR scores at a rate of approximately −1.5 points per week ( R2 = .9; p ≤ .0001). Total device usage was strongly and inversely correlated with baseline FIQR scores ( R2 = .43; p = .02). These findings suggest that CMP stimulation may provide an additional treatment option for individuals with FM who are challenged to perform traditional forms of exercise.

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