Reversal of lower limb edema by calf muscle pump stimulation.
BACKGROUND
Peripheral edema (PE) is commonly coupled with heart failure, restrictive cardiomyopathy, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure, and hypoproteinemia. Diuretics and/or limb elevation, although commonly prescribed to treat PE, are often insufficient to remove sufficient fluid to prevent complications. We assessed the ability of the calf muscle pump (CMP) stimulation to reverse PE.


METHODS
Fluid volume was evaluated by air plethysmography in the right legs of 54 adult women (mean age 46.7 +/- 1.5 years) following venous status assessment. Change in calf volume was assessed during 30 minutes of quiet sitting, followed by 30 minutes of sitting with CMP stimulation via micromechanical stimulation of the plantar surface.


RESULTS
Leg volume changes demonstrated a bimodal distribution. Leg volume decreased during quiet sitting in 56% of the study group, whereas in 44% of the group, significant lower leg fluid pooling was evident (increase in calf volume of 14.0 +/- 0.3 mL/h). CMP stimulation reversed the fluid pooling in the edematous group (-2.7 +/- 0.1 mL/h) and was able to accelerate fluid removal in the nonedematous group.


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately two fifths of adult women experience substantial pooling when their lower limbs are maintained in a dependent position. Lower-extremity edema exhibited by these women may primarily be due to inadequate calf muscle tone because exogenous stimulation of the CMP was sufficient to halt and reverse fluid pooling. Whether CMP stimulation would provide a means to treat PE in individuals with edema-related health complications, such as congestive heart failure, merits further investigation.
Goddard
Ayana A
AA
Program in Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
Pierce
Carolyn S
CS
McLeod
Kenneth J
KJ
D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011446:Prospective Studies