What is it about?
Long seated immobility, especially on long-distance flights is accompanied by the risk of deep vein thrombosis. To prevent average risk passengers from thrombosis, airlines suggest to conduct exercises of toes and ankle. With our study, we aimed to establish a ranking of exercises to consolidate the evidence in mechanical thrombosis prophylaxis for travellers and immobile patients.
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Why is it important?
There has been no study before, ranking the direct effect of lower limb exercises on venous backflow in healthy subjects. Especially long-distance travellers should be reminded to conduct exercises to maintain venous backflow. We tested six different exercises, also including exercises that can be conducted by patients suffering from restriction of the ankle. Furthermore we found out, that forceful movements of the toes achieve surprisingly high venous backflow velocities with unexpectet actuation of the anterolateral calf muscle compartment being involved.
Perspectives
The exact physiology behind the calf-muscle-pump is unknown, but we could underline the calf funtioning as a peripheral heart. This study gives us more information about the effects of the calf muscle pump system and contributes to more medical evidence in mechanical thrombosis prophylaxis. With this study we are on our way to realize the importance of venous backflow stimulated by the calf muscle pump on blood circulation and cardiac output. Beyond that we are are once again fascinated by the human body - creating mean venous backflow velocities close to 200 cm/s.
Alexander T Kropp
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The efficacy of forceful ankle and toe exercises to increase venous return: A comprehensive Doppler ultrasound study, Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease, May 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0268355517706042.
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