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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Leg venous hemodynamics and leg volumes during a 42 day -6 degrees head-down bedrest.

Seven healthy subjects were submitted to a 42-day head down bedrest, where leg venous compliance (venous distensibility index VDI) and leg volumes were assessed by mercury strain gauge plethysmography with venous occlusion and optoelectronic plethysmography, respectively. Plethysmographic and volometric measurements were made, before, during (at days 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 26, 34 and 41), and after bedrest (days 1, 4, 7, 11 and 30 of the recovery period). Results showed a continuous decrease in leg volumes throughout bedrest, when VDI increased until day 26 of bedrest, and then decreased afterwards. The recovery period was characterized by a rapid return of VDI to prebedrest levels while leg volumes progressively normalised. These results showed that leg venous compliance changes are not always dependent upon skeletal muscle changes, and that factors other than size of muscle compartment are able to determine increases in leg venous compliance during long-term bedrest.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Leg length measurement: a new method to assure the correct leg length in total hip arthroplasty.

The precise measurement of leg length plays an important role in total hip arthroplasty. Leg length inequality occurs frequently after total hip arthroplasty and may cause patient discomfort. Current clinical methods used for measuring leg length are not accurate enough to meet the demands of precision required for hip replacement. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of determining leg length differences using an ultrasound system. The proposed system measures the distance between three points, in millimetres, so that the difference between preoperative and postoperative measurements gives an indication about the leg length. The mean ultrasound variation observed in in vitro measurements showed a relative error of 1.7% (range: 52-133 mm) that means a leg length inequality of about 0.4 mm (range: 52-133 mm). The method is non-invasive (ultrasound is not limited by radiation hazards), easy, quick to use, and can be used for standard clinical screening.

Anthropometry↗

Leg blood flow and muscle metabolism in occlusive arterial disease of the leg before and after reconstructive surgery.

1. Leg blood flow, uptake of oxygen and glucose and release of lactate by the leg and changes in intramuscular concentrations of metabolites were studied at rest and during exercise of increasing work loads in thirteen patients with occlusive disease of the iliac or superficial femoral arteries. 2. Leg blood flow (dye-dilution technique) and oxygen uptake during exercise were low and levelled with increasing work load. Considerable increases were noted in muscle lactate concentration and in the net release of lactate from the exercising leg. Muscle content (needle-biopsy technique) of ATP and creatine phosphate decreased during exercise, with an almost complete depletion of creatine phosphate in three patients. The decrease in muscle glycogen during work did not differ significantly from that of control subjects. 3. Repeated exercise after reconstructive surgery showed a considerable improvement in physical working capacity. Leg blood flow and oxygen uptake during exercise were significantly higher than before surgery and increased linearly in relation to work intensity. The decrease in creatine phosphate and lactate concentration of the thigh muscle during exercise was less pronounced and the release of lactate was lower than before vascular reconstruction. 4. It is suggested that the onset of the severe muscle symptoms during exercise in patients with occlusive arterial disease of the leg may be related to a low concentration of ATP and creatine phosphate in the affected muscles.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Whole-leg duplex mapping for varicose veins: observations on patterns of reflux in recurrent and primary legs, with clinical correlation.

BACKGROUND: the variability of venous reflux patterns complicate the management of venous disease. Our study investigates specific variations in venous anatomy and patterns of reflux in varying clinical situations. METHODS: prospective analysis of 464 legs in 355 patients was performed by complete duplex venous mapping of both primary and recurrent varicose veins. Hand Held Doppler (HHD) and Duplex Ultrasonography (Duplex US) observations in the popliteal fossa were compared in a subgroup of 89 patients with primary varicose veins. Distribution of venous system disease was correlated with clinical severity in a subgroup of 117 affected legs which was representative of the overall study group. RESULTS: sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ) incompetence predominated in both primary and recurrent varicose veins. Only 21% of primary legs and 25% of recurrent legs had sapheno-popliteal junction (SPJ) incompetence. SPJ incompetence was present in only 42% of cases where reflux in the popliteal region on HHD had been demonstrated. A proportion of both primary and recurrent varicose veins had evidence of deep venous incompetence (DVI). Sixty-four percent of primary leg ulcer patients had superficial incompetence alone. In patients with recurrent varicosities and ulceration, 57% had SPJ incompetence, 64% multiple sites and 50% DVI. CONCLUSION: the complex variations of varicose vein anatomy and functional pathology in the lower limb are currently best assessed by complete whole-leg venous duplex mapping.

Adult↗

Validity of leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance measurement in highly active women.

The aim of this study was to compare the validity of the leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method with that of anthropometry using hydrostatic weighing (HW) as the criterion test. A secondary objective was to cross-validate previously developed anthropometric regression equations as well as to develop a new regression equation formula based on the anthropometric data collected in this study. Three methods for assessing body composition (HW, BIA, and anthropometric) were applied to 60 women university athletes. The means and standard deviations of age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) of athletes were as follows: age, 20.70 +/- 1.43; weight, 56.19 +/- 7.83 kg; height, 163.33 +/- 6.11 cm; BMI, 21.01 +/- 2.63 kg x m(-2). Leg-to-leg BIA (11.82 +/- 2.39) has shown no statistical difference between percentage body fat determined by HW (11.63 +/- 2.42%) in highly active women (p > 0.05). This result suggests that the leg-to-leg BIA and HW methods were somewhat interchangeable in highly active women (R = 0.667; standard error of estimate [SEE] = 1.81). As a result of all cross-validation analyses, anthropometric and BIA plus anthropometric results have generally produced lower regression coefficients and higher SEEs for highly active women between the ages of 18 and 25 years. The regression coefficients (0.903, 0.926) and SEE (1.08, 0.96) for the new regression formulas developed from this study were better than the all the other formulas used in this study.

Adult↗

[The clinical application of cross-leg flaps for coverage of bone exposure on the leg].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cross-leg flap for repairing the soft tissue defect of the leg. METHODS: Twenty-tree patients with exposure wounds on the leg were selected for the treatment by using different kinds of the cross-leg flaps, including 5 in medial knee skin flap, 12 in gastrocnemius myo-cutaneous flap and 6 in posterior calf fascial skin flap. RESULTS: The patients were successfully treated with the complete survival of the flaps. No infection occurred. The results were good with the long-term follow-ups. CONCLUSION: The method of the cross-leg flap is a safe and good way for repairing the soft tissue defects of the leg with the advantages such as color and texture of the transplanted tissue to be matched the recipient well.

Adolescent↗

Leg cramps (systremma0 and "restless legs" syndrome. Response to vitamin E (tocopherol).

A clinical investigation into the therapeutic value of vitamin E (tocopherol) in certain dermatological conditions of obscure etiology led to the incidental observation that this compound produced beneficial effects in some of the patients who were suffering from frequent and severe nocturnal leg cramps. Nearly all of the patients with leg cramps received prompt and gratifying relief from their symptoms while taking vitamin E in the form of d, alpha-tocopheryl acetate, 100 I.U. three times a day before meals. The group included 24 private patients with leg cramps and two with the "restless legs" syndrome, probably a related condition. One of the patients with leg and foot cramps also had severe nocturnal rectal cramps which were also relieved. Nocturnal leg cramps constitute a relatively common complaint in the general practice of medicine and may be very distressing to the patient. Not only is the cause obscure and the treatment relatively unsatisfactory, but even its proper medical name, systremma (anything twisted up together), is unknown to most physicians.

Adult↗

Exercise training using arms and legs versus legs along.

This study was undertaken to determine whether levels of conditioning associated with conventional leg work are comparable to those associated with both arm and leg work. Six healthy men conditioned for 6 weeks using both arms and legs while a similar group of 5 men conditioned using legs alone. The subjects trained 3 times per week on a bicycle ergometer, and covered a distance of 3 miles (4.83 km) per session using interval training techniques. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were the primary comparative measures. There were no differences in improvement of maximal aerobic power between the 2 groups. However, the arm and leg subjects were able to do more work at a lower HR during the conditioning program. This implies considerably less physical stress on the heart and skeletal muscle, and indicates that the feeling of stress is related to metabolic rate per square area of working muscle rather than to total metabolism. Since this type of conditioning provides high levels of improvement in aerobic power wit less demands on the myocardium, it is suggested that arm and leg exercise be incorporated in the rehabilitation of cardiac patients.

Adult↗

The validity of the prone leg check as an estimate of standing leg length inequality measured by X-ray.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if prone leg length measurements for inequality are valid to estimate standing X-ray measured differences. DESIGN: Leg length inequality (LLI) was measured, in millimeters, with each patient prone and with a standing X-ray, by an experienced chiropractor. Correlation between the two was calculated, and dependent t test performed. SETTING: Private chiropractic practice. PARTICIPANTS: The first 50 new patients with low back pain (LBP) who were X-rayed were included in the study. RESULTS: Correlation between the two variables was 0.71. Standard error of estimation was 5.4 mm. In 54% of subjects, the prone measurement was within 3 mm of the X-ray LLI; in 12%, however, opposite legs were identified as being "shorter" between the two methods. In 76% of patients, prone measurements were within 6 mm of X-ray, but there was 12-mm difference between the two measurement methods in 8% of the comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Despite positive correlation, prone leg length measurements for inequality are not entirely valid estimates of standing X-ray differences. Large differences between prone and X-ray measurements in some cases indicate that one should be cautious when using the prone method alone to estimate leg length discrepancy. Additional research is needed to determine the causes of measurement differences between the two methods. Other methods for estimating standing leg length differential must be developed and evaluated for validity.

Adolescent↗

[A new procedure for determining leg length and leg length inequality using ultrasound. II: Comparison of ultrasound, teleradiography and 2 clinical procedures in 50 patients].

The clinical methods still in common use for measuring leg length and leg length discrepancy (LLD) cannot always meet the demands of precision and accuracy. A method using ultrasound is presented and shown to be a standardized, non-invasive method allowing accurate determination of leg length and LLD. Once the validity had been proved experimentally, practical handling, precision and accuracy of this method were tested on 50 patients in whom teleradiography of the lower extremity was performed for different reasons. The sonographically determined measures of LLD were compared with the radiographic measurements and in addition clinical measurements were taken by direct (tape measure) and indirect methods ("lengthening" of the shorter leg by wooden blocks of known thickness). Adjustments to the ventral hip joint and to the medial knee joint served as standardized, easily reproducible sonographic reference points. The mean variance of repeated sonographic measurements as a reflection of precision amounted to 3.5 mm2 for leg length measurement, with a maximum of 13.5 mm2. In the case of LLD the mean divergence between sonographically and radiographically determined LLD was 0.9 +/- 2.7 mm, with a maximum of 6.4 mm. The clinical methods with mean divergence of -1.2 +/- 9.6 mm (direct method) and -1.0 +/- 6.1 mm (indirect method) proved to be less accurate. The method examined for measuring leg lengths and LLD by means of ultrasound is easy to manage and non-invasive. Its precision and accuracy make it superior to clinical measuring methods and could even make some radiographical examinations superfluous.

Adult↗

Increased motor control of a phantom leg in humans results from the visual feedback of a virtual leg.

Although previous research reported that the visual feedback of a 'virtual arm' increased the control of a phantom arm, it did not consider that the repeated attempt to move the phantom may have contributed to the effect. Twenty-one lower limb amputees reported the response of their phantom leg during repeated attempts to move both legs in one of two conditions, a control condition in which the amputee only viewed the movements of their intact leg and an experimental condition in which the amputee additionally viewed the movements of a 'virtual' leg. It was found that viewing a virtual leg resulted in amputees reporting a significantly greater number of movements of their phantom leg than with attempted movement alone. The implications were discussed in terms of visuo-motor adaptation and theories of motor control.

Adult↗

Not letting the left leg know what the right leg is doing: limb-specific locomotor adaptation to sensory-cue conflict.

We investigated the phenomenon of limb-specific locomotor adaptation in order to adjudicate between sensory-cue-conflict theory and motor-adaptation theory. The results were consistent with cue-conflict theory in demonstrating that two different leg-specific hopping aftereffects are modulated by the presence of conflicting estimates of self-motion from visual and nonvisual sources. Experiment 1 shows that leg-specific increases in forward drift during attempts to hop in place on one leg while blindfolded vary according to the relationship between visual information and motor activity during an adaptation to outdoor forward hopping. Experiment 2 shows that leg-specific changes in performance on a blindfolded hopping-to-target task are similarly modulated by the presence of cue conflict during adaptation to hopping on a treadmill. Experiment 3 shows that leg-specific aftereffects from hopping additionally produce inadvertent turning during running in place while blindfolded. The results of these experiments suggest that these leg-specific locomotor aftereffects are produced by sensory-cue conflict rather than simple motor adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Nonspiking local interneurons in insect leg motor control. II. Role of nonspiking local interneurons in the control of leg swing during walking.

1. Nonspiking local interneurons (NSIs) were recorded intracellularly in the mesothoracic ganglion of semi-intact locusts walking on a treadwheel. Interneurons were characterized by their connectivity to motoneurons. Their activity patterns in the step cycle and the effect current injection had on the leg movement were analyzed. We examined interneurons that provided excitatory or inhibitory synaptic drive to a subset of motoneurons active during the swing movement of walking. 2. Interneuron activity was observed to support or oppose the actual leg movement. Both supporting and opposing interneurons were active simultaneously, lending support to the idea that the actual motor output of walking is generated by the adjustment of parallel antagonistic pathways of signal processing. 3. The examined interneurons showed qualitatively the same patterns of activity during forward and backward walking. This indicates that swing movement in both situations may be generated by similar neuronal networks (although the mechanism of movement reversal remains unclear). 4. At least two functional types of NSIs could be distinguished. First, there were interneurons whose depolarization patterns showed distinct variability, often correlated with duration or amplitude of the swing movement. As a rule, current injection had minor, if any, effects on leg movement. Populations of these interneurons appear to be involved in the control of a coordinated swing movement by driving appropriate sets of muscle groups. The second type of NSIs showed more stereotyped activity patterns that varied relatively little with changes in the swing movement. Current injection had strong effects on the leg movement and could, for example, arrest the leg in the stance phase. These interneurons appear to be primarily involved in the trigger mechanism of leg swing.

Animals↗

One-legged pedalling compared with two-legged pedalling on a bicycle ergometer as a basis for assessing physical condition in terms of the cardio-respiratory response to exercise.

An assessment has been made of the linearity of the relationship between oxygen uptake and cardio-respiratory parameters measured during pedalling with one leg on an upright bicycle ergometer. Four young male subjects pedalled at four submaximal grades. Individual regression lines of heart rate on oxygen uptake; minute ventilation on oxygen uptake; and carbon dioxide on oxygen uptake were found to have significantly high correlation coefficients. A comparison was made in 21 healthy males, of mean age 34 years (range 20-61 years), between the effects of pedaliling with one leg or two legs on the heart rate, minute ventilation and carbon dioxide production were significantly higher during work with one leg then with two legs, but there was no significant difference in the heart rates. The oxygen cost of pedalling with one leg instead of two was also higher. The comparisons were made at a standard oxygen uptake of 1.0 1 min minus 1.

Adult↗

[Ultrasonographic measurement of leg length and leg length differences].

A new diagnostic method for measuring the leg length and the leg length difference by means of ultrasound is presented. A special device for holding and moving the ultrasound transducer was constructed. The measuring points on the hip, knee and upper ankle can be visualised by means of a 5- or 7.5-MHz linear scanner. The measuring device gives the distance of the points in cm so that the difference correspond to the length of the leg, femur and tibia. Tests conducted on corpes and clinical examples show that ultrasound in combination with our special device is an ideal method for determining the exact lengths of the leg. The ultrasound measuring of the leg length offers a reliable, non invasive and easily performed method. Because ultrasound is not limited by radiation hazards, our technique can be used for clinical screening.

Adolescent↗