COMPARISON OF 3 EXERCISES FOR EVALUATION OF THE CALF MUSCLE PUMP

Objective: To evaluate accurately the calf muscle pump in patients wit h venous insufficiency using foot vein pressure measurements during th ree different exercises. Design: Prospective study in three groups, co mparing patients with venous disease with controls. Setting: Second De partment of Surgery, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine.Patients: Twenty normal legs, 29 legs previously affected by deep vein thrombosi s and 36 legs with primary varicose veins. Main outcome measures: The foot vein pressure was measured during ankle dorsiflexions, knee-bendi ng 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 t he spot, but not after knee-bending. Conclusion: Dorsiflexion is the m ost useful exercise distinguishing various severities of venous insuff iciency, but walking on the spot is more useful for accurately evaluat ing the calf muscle pump.