title: Time and reliability issues associated with automatic vs. manual measurements of Ankle to Brachial pressure Index (ABI) following heavy load exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ankle to brachial index after heavy load exercise is the most accurate way of diagnosing minor arterial lesions in athletes, such as endofibrosis. The reliability and practical aspects of ankle to brachial index measurements after heavy-load exercise have not been studied. The purpose of this study was to analyze the interest of oscillometric automatic vs. manual Doppler measurements, for the calculation of ankle to brachial index, after heavy-load exercise in athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective single-center study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy trained athletes performed an incremental test twice. Ankle to brachial index measurements were performed at Rest, as soon as possible after exercise (Rec-0), and then started at the 3rd minute of recovery (Rec-3), by two operators using each one of the two ankle to brachial index measurement methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean times for automatic vs. manual ankle to brachial availability were 99 ± 18 s vs. 113 ± 25 s (p = 0.005) and 44 ± 25 s vs. 53 ± 12 s (p = 0.001) respectively at Rec-0 and Rec-3. Ankle to brachial index values from the two methods were highly correlated (r = 0.89). Mean absolute differences of automatic vs. manual ankle to brachial values from test-retest were 0.04 ± 0.05 vs. 0.08 ± 0.08 (p > 0.05) and 0.07 ± 0.05 vs. 0.09 ± 0.10 (p > 0.05) at Rest and Rec-0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Automatic method allows obtaining faster and simultaneously post-exercise ankle to brachial index measurement compare to the manual Doppler. This time issue does not result in a significant change in absolute ankle to brachial index values, nor in the absolute differences of these in test-retest. Nevertheless, the test-retest variability of post-exercise ankle to brachial index results seems smaller with the automatic than the manual method.
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity and Sport Learning Institute (IFEPSA), Angers, France.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Congnard
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Sport and Vascular Investigation, University Hospital of Angers, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruneau
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Sport and Vascular Investigation, University Hospital of Angers, France; UMR INSERM 1083 CNRS6214, University of Medicine, Angers, France. Electronic address: PiAbraham@chu-angers.fr.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Sport and Vascular Investigation, University Hospital of Angers, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colas-Ribas
authors.affiliation: UMR INSERM 1083 CNRS6214, University of Medicine, Angers, France; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Angers, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Picquet
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity and Sport Learning Institute (IFEPSA), Angers, France.
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noury-Desvaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009991:Oscillometry; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ankle Brachial Index; Automatic; Exercise; Healthy volunteers; Measurements