Preliminary Evaluation of Recommended Airline Exercises for Optimal Calf Muscle Pump Activity

Objectives: Exercise of the leg with external limb compression has been reported to be useful for preventing and reducing leg oedema. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of leg gaiters on calf muscle pump activity. Methods: Continuous measurements of the interface pressure at the leg during exercise and determination of the femoral venous velocity at the groin during exercise were carried out in healthy volunteers with elastic stockings alone, leg gaiters alone and gaiters over the elastic stockings. Results: The greatest pressure difference between muscle contraction and relaxation during exercise was observed when gaiters were applied over the elastic stockings at the calf. Gaiters alone without elastic stockings led to a significantly greater pressure difference between muscle contraction and relaxation during exercise than elastic stockings alone (P, 0.01). A significantly higher value of the peak flow velocity of the femoral vein was observed with the combined use of gaiters and elastic stockings than the single use of elastic stockings. Conclusions: Leg gaiters have a beneficial effect of augmenting venous femoral blood flow during calf muscle pump activity in volunteers with a normal valve function of leg veins.

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An alternative to EMG sensors in the detection of calf muscle pump activity

Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) ◽

10.1007/bf03170149 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 174 (S1) ◽

pp. 31-31

Author(s):

K. J. O’Donovan ◽

D. T. O’Keeffe ◽

P. A. Grace ◽

G. M. Lyons

Keyword(s):

Calf Muscle ◽

Muscle Pump ◽

Calf Muscle Pump ◽

Pump Activity

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The application of inertial and magnetic sensors to the monitoring of calf muscle pump activity

Medical Engineering & Physics ◽

10.1016/j.medengphy.2008.04.006 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 55-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Karol J. O’Donovan ◽

Alan K. Bourke ◽

Derek T. O’Keeffe ◽

Gearóid ÓLaighin

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Sensors ◽

Calf Muscle ◽

Muscle Pump ◽

Calf Muscle Pump ◽

Pump Activity

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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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Calf muscle pump function as a predictor of all-cause mortality

Vascular Medicine ◽

10.1177/1358863x20953212 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 519-526

Author(s):

Meghana Halkar ◽

Jose Medina Inojosa ◽

David Liedl ◽

Waldemar Wysokinski ◽

Damon E Houghton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Charlson Comorbidity Index ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Calf Muscle ◽

Study Objective ◽

Muscle Pump ◽

Calf Muscle Pump ◽

Comorbidity Index ◽

Predominantly Female ◽

Poor Outcomes

Calf muscle pump (CMP) promotes venous return from the lower extremity and contributes to preload and cardiac output. Impaired CMP function may reflect a measure of frailty or cumulative disease burden or may impede cardiac function. The study objective was to test the hypothesis that impaired CMP negatively impacts survival. Consecutive adult patients who underwent venous strain gauge plethysmography at the Mayo Clinic Gonda Vascular Laboratory (January 1, 1998 – December 31, 2011) were assessed for overall survival. Patients with venous incompetence, venous obstruction or unilateral calf pump dysfunction were excluded. Risk of mortality was assessed with Cox proportional hazard ratios and after adjusting for Charlson Comorbidity Index variables. Over the study period, 2728 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to patients with normal CMP, those with impaired CMP were older ( p < 0.001), predominantly female ( p = 0.01) and had higher mean Charlson scores ( p < 0.001). Patients with impaired CMP had a higher mortality rate at 5 (8.9% vs 2.4%), 10 (17.5% vs 5.9%), and 15 years (22.8% vs 8.3%) compared to those with normal CMP ( p < 0.001 for each comparison). Of patients with heart failure, those with impaired CMP had worse survival at each 5-year increment compared to those with normal CMP ( p < 0.05 at each increment). In conclusion, impaired CMP appears to be an independent predictor of poor outcomes after adjusting for variables within the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The association between impaired CMP, heart failure, and mortality may represent a negative impact on circulatory function or a surrogate measure of frailty.

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Assessment of the long term results of the treatment based on the duplication of crural fascia as improvement of calf muscle pump in patients with chronic venous insufficiency

Leczenie Ran ◽

10.1066/s10019040006 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 1 (1-1) ◽

pp. 9-11

Author(s):

ANDRZEJ CENCORA ◽

MAREK PIWOWARCZYK ◽

MACIEJ CHWAŁA

Keyword(s):

Chronic Venous Insufficiency ◽

Venous Insufficiency ◽

Calf Muscle ◽

Long Term Results ◽

Crural Fascia ◽

Muscle Pump ◽

Calf Muscle Pump

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The Effect of Elastic Compression on Calf Muscle Pump Function

Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease ◽

10.1177/026835559000500105 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 13-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

D. Christopoulos ◽

A. N. Nicolaides ◽

G. Belcaro ◽

P. Duffy

Keyword(s):

Venous Pressure ◽

Haemodynamic Effect ◽

Calf Muscle ◽

Venous Reflux ◽

Venous Capacitance ◽

Elastic Compression ◽

Muscle Pump ◽

Calf Muscle Pump ◽

Elastic Stockings ◽

Venous Volume

The haemodynamic effect of elastic compression has been evaluated in 23 patients (26 limbs) with superficial venous incompetence. Ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) and pressure recovery time (RT90) were measured with foot vein canulation. Also the functional venous volume (VV) (venous capacitance), venous reflux and the ejecting capacity of the calf muscle pump were measured with air-plethysmography. The above measurements were made with and without a graduated compression elastic stocking. Elastic compression produced a significant reduction in VV ( P < 0.01). Also a significant decrease in venous reflux and increase in the ejecting capacity of the calf muscle pump ( P < 0.01). The above alterations explain the significant reduction in AVP and prolongation of RT90 ( P < 0.01) which was observed as a result of elastic compression. The measurements made in this study demonstrate in an objective and quantitative way the beneficial effect of elastic stockings in patients with superficial venous incompetence and how this effect is achieved.

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