Gait and calf muscle endurance in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.
OBJECTIVE
To gain insight in gait and calf muscle endurance in patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency (healed or active ulcers) and 19 healthy controls were selected for this study. Subjects had to perform eight trials at preferred walking speed and eight trials at instructed walking speed (1.25 m/s) during which the gait parameters were recorded. The calf muscle endurance was tested by use of the heel-rise test.


RESULTS
Patients had a significantly lower preferred walking speed (1.25 m/s +/- 0.31) compared with healthy controls (1.44 m/s +/- 0.0.15) (p = 0.039). During preferred walking speed patients had a wider base of support (p = 0.003), a bigger step time (p = 0.005), and a bigger stride time (p = 0.004) compared with healthy controls. At instructed walking speed only base of support was different between the two groups (p = 0.016). Patients had a significantly (p = 0.003) smaller number of heel rises (14.6 +/- 7.34), indicating decreased calf muscle endurance compared with controls (23.5 +/- 6.54).


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates a disturbed gait and decreased calf muscle endurance in patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency. The results of this study point to a possible role for gait and strength training in the rehabilitation process of patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency.
van Uden
C J T
CJ
Department of Physical Therapy, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. C.vanUden@fysioth.umcn.nl
van der Vleuten
C J M
CJ
Kooloos
J G M
JG
Haenen
J H
JH
Wollersheim
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D009426:Netherlands; D010807:Physical Endurance; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation