Diego N Araujo1, Cibele Td Ribeiro2, Alvaro Cc Maciel3, Selma S Bruno3, Guilherme Af Fregonezi4, Fernando Al Dias2. 1. PhD Program in Physiology, Federal University of Paraná, Av. Cel. Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, s/n, Jardim das Américas, UFPR-Depto de Fisiologia, Centro Politécnico, Curitiba, PR, Brazil, 81531-980. 2. Department of Physiology, Federal University of Paraná, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, 81531-970. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, UFRN-Depto Fisiotherapia, Campus Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, Brazil, 59078-970. 4. PhD Program in Physical Therapy, Phd Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Bairro Lagoa Nova, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, 59078-970.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a common disease that causes discomfort and impairs the quality of life of affected persons. Treatments such as physical exercise that aim to increase the movement of the ankle joint and strengthen the muscle pump in the calf of the leg may be useful to reduce the symptoms of CVI. OBJECTIVES: To assess and summarise the existing clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of physical exercise programmes for the treatment of individuals with non-ulcerated CVI. SEARCH METHODS: The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist (CIS) searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register (May 2016). In addition, the CIS searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 4) and trial databases for details of ongoing or unpublished studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing exercise with no exercise programmes. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the search results and selected eligible studies. We resolved disagreements by discussion. We summarised and double-checked details from included studies. We attempted to contact trial authors for missing data, but obtained no further information. MAIN RESULTS: We included two trials involving 54 participants with CVI. Many of our review outcomes were not reported or reported by only one of the two studies. The intensity of disease signs and symptoms was measured in both studies but using different scales; we were therefore unable to pool the data. One study reported no difference between the exercise and control groups whereas the second reported a reduction in symptoms in the exercise group. In one study, increases in change in ejection fraction compared with baseline (mean difference (MD) 4.88%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.16 to 6.60; 30 participants; P < 0.00001), half venous refilling time (MD 4.20 seconds, 95% CI 3.28 to 5.12; 23 participants; P < 0.00001) and total venous refilling time (MD 9.40 seconds, 95% CI 7.77 to 11.03; 23 participants; P < 0.00001) were observed in the exercise group compared with the control group. One study reported no difference between the exercise and control groups with regard to quality of life or ankle range of motion. Although muscle strength assessed by dynamometry at slow speed did not differ between the two groups in this study, variable peak torque at fast speed was lower in the control group than in the exercise group (2.8 ± 0.9 compared with -0.3 ± 0.6, P < 0.03). The incidence of venous leg ulcers, incidence of surgical intervention to treat symptoms related to CVI and exercise capacity were not assessed or reported in either of the included trials. We rated both included studies as at high risk of bias; hence, these data should be interpreted carefully. Due to the small number of studies and small sample size, we were not able to verify indirectness and publication bias. Therefore, we judged the overall quality of evidence as very low according to the GRADE approach. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is currently insufficient evidence available to assess the efficacy of physical exercise in people with CVI. Future research into the effect of physical exercise should consider types of exercise protocols (intensity, frequency and time), sample size, blinding and homogeneity according to the severity of disease.
BACKGROUND:Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a common disease that causes discomfort and impairs the quality of life of affected persons. Treatments such as physical exercise that aim to increase the movement of the ankle joint and strengthen the muscle pump in the calf of the leg may be useful to reduce the symptoms of CVI. OBJECTIVES: To assess and summarise the existing clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of physical exercise programmes for the treatment of individuals with non-ulcerated CVI. SEARCH METHODS: The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist (CIS) searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register (May 2016). In addition, the CIS searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 4) and trial databases for details of ongoing or unpublished studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing exercise with no exercise programmes. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the search results and selected eligible studies. We resolved disagreements by discussion. We summarised and double-checked details from included studies. We attempted to contact trial authors for missing data, but obtained no further information. MAIN RESULTS: We included two trials involving 54 participants with CVI. Many of our review outcomes were not reported or reported by only one of the two studies. The intensity of disease signs and symptoms was measured in both studies but using different scales; we were therefore unable to pool the data. One study reported no difference between the exercise and control groups whereas the second reported a reduction in symptoms in the exercise group. In one study, increases in change in ejection fraction compared with baseline (mean difference (MD) 4.88%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.16 to 6.60; 30 participants; P < 0.00001), half venous refilling time (MD 4.20 seconds, 95% CI 3.28 to 5.12; 23 participants; P < 0.00001) and total venous refilling time (MD 9.40 seconds, 95% CI 7.77 to 11.03; 23 participants; P < 0.00001) were observed in the exercise group compared with the control group. One study reported no difference between the exercise and control groups with regard to quality of life or ankle range of motion. Although muscle strength assessed by dynamometry at slow speed did not differ between the two groups in this study, variable peak torque at fast speed was lower in the control group than in the exercise group (2.8 ± 0.9 compared with -0.3 ± 0.6, P < 0.03). The incidence of venous leg ulcers, incidence of surgical intervention to treat symptoms related to CVI and exercise capacity were not assessed or reported in either of the included trials. We rated both included studies as at high risk of bias; hence, these data should be interpreted carefully. Due to the small number of studies and small sample size, we were not able to verify indirectness and publication bias. Therefore, we judged the overall quality of evidence as very low according to the GRADE approach. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is currently insufficient evidence available to assess the efficacy of physical exercise in people with CVI. Future research into the effect of physical exercise should consider types of exercise protocols (intensity, frequency and time), sample size, blinding and homogeneity according to the severity of disease.
Authors: Michael A Vasquez; Eberhard Rabe; Robert B McLafferty; Cynthia K Shortell; William A Marston; David Gillespie; Mark H Meissner; Robert B Rutherford Journal: J Vasc Surg Date: 2010-09-27 Impact factor: 4.268
Authors: D D Wipke-Tevis; M J Rantz; D R Mehr; L Popejoy; G Petroski; R Madsen; V S Conn; V T Grando; R Porter; M Maas Journal: Adv Skin Wound Care Date: 2000 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.347
Authors: Diego N Araujo; Cibele Td Ribeiro; Alvaro Cc Maciel; Selma S Bruno; Guilherme Af Fregonezi; Fernando Al Dias Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2016-12-03
Authors: Yejin Mok; Junichi Ishigami; Yingying Sang; Anna M Kucharska-Newton; Maya Salameh; Jennifer A Schrack; Priya Palta; Josef Coresh; B Gwen Windham; Pamela L Lutsey; Aaron R Folsom; Kunihiro Matsushita Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2022-08-12 Impact factor: 6.591