Dynamic foot-exerciser : a validation study and testing in disuse oedema patients

Aim. It is well-known that sitting one hour results in swelling and fluid tetention. However sitting for a long-day work or in elderly people with leg disuse, the venous and lymphatic stasis might be important for chronic venous [and lymphatic] disorders (CVD). Physical training programmes developed to prevent CVD are aimed at calf muscles strengthening. Methods. We studied a patented, dynamic foot-moover or calf muscle pump facilitating device (PPD: VenoGym by Engineer E. Tacconi), designed to encourage the user to do a certain physical and spontaneous activity without any particular effort. A first test showed that a short period of use (half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the afternoon) of PFD induces subjective benefits, confirmed by the sensation of "light legs". Validation was carried out in a griup of 22 healthy people (mean age 52 years, range 27-69) by Photoplethysmography (PPG) and in 4 subjects by Laser Doppler Imaging. Moreover we tested PFD on 12 aged disable people and in 12 patients without mobility problems, based on a special form for the QoL and swelling reduction, color-Duplex and laser-Doppler exams. Results. PPG analysis showed that the few minutes of exercises with PFD determined a vein emptying of both legs (45%+/-18 M+/-SD right leg and 47+/-18 M+/- SD left leg). Laser-Doppler imaging performed on both feet after 10 minutes of exercise showed a mean reduction of 19% of tissue perfusion. The study carried out on disabled patients, showed an improvement in blood flow and leg swelling reduction in both groups, the most effectiveness in the control group. Conclusion. PFD device has a proven vasoactive effect both on micro and macrocirculation; the results on disabled confirm the necessity of a valid physical activity.