title: The Association of Calf Circumference with Resting Pulse Rate in Community-dwelling Healthy Elderly Women -Pilot Study-.
abstract: [Purpose] High resting blood pressure and heart rate are associated with the risk of cardiovascular events. In patients with decreasing amounts of slow twitch muscle fiber, hypertension may develop and resting heart rate may increase. Measurement of the amount of slow twitch muscle fiber and capillary density using muscle biopsy is inconvenient and expensive. Therefore, a better screening test is required to determine these parameters for prevention of cardiovascular events. In this study, relationships among calf circumference, resting blood pressure, and pulse rate in the soleus muscle were investigated. [Subjects] Healthy elderly women (n= 19, 61-84 years of age) living in the community were the subjects of this study. [Methods] Blood pressure was measured using an automatic hemodynamometer on the left arm. The calf circumference was measured, and pulse rate was measured on the left radial artery for 1 min by palpation. [Results] No correlations were observed between calf circumference, resting systolic or diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, or mean blood pressure. However, an inverse correlation was observed between calf circumference and resting pulse rate. [Conclusion] Calf circumference measurement may be used as a screening test for resting pulse rate. This test may be useful for the prevention of cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences for Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Sciences, Seirei Christopher University ; Department of Physical Therapy, Health Science University.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morikami
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamo
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Miku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Yuusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Yuusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishida
keywords: Calf circumference; Resting pulse rate; Slow twitch muscle fiber