Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Tsukuba 305-8576, Japan.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Aug 3;60(8):1260. doi: 10.3390/medicina60081260.
: Bedridden patients are at a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Passive devices such as elastic compression stockings and intermittent pneumatic compression are common. Leg exercise apparatus (LEX) is an active device designed to prevent VTE by effectively contracting the soleus muscle and is therefore expected to be effective in preventing disuse of the lower limbs. However, few studies have been conducted on the kinematic properties of LEX. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the exercise characteristics of LEX with those of an ergometer, which is commonly used as a lower-limb exercise device, and examine its effect on the two domains of muscle activity and circulatory dynamics. : This study used a crossover design in which each participant performed both exercises to evaluate the exercise characteristics of each device. Fifteen healthy adults performed exercises with LEX and an ergometer (Terasu Erugo, SDG Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) for 5 min each and rested for 10 min after each exercise. Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (Clinical DTS, Noraxon, Scottsdale, AZ, USA), and circulatory dynamics were recorded using a non-invasive impedance cardiac output meter (Physioflow Enduro, Manatec Biomedical, Paris, France). The primary outcome was the mean percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) of the soleus muscle during exercise. : The mean %MVC of the soleus muscle was significantly higher in the LEX group, whereas no significant differences were observed across the periods and sequences. Heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output increased during exercise and decreased thereafter; however, the differences between the devices were not significant. : LEX may not only have a higher thromboprophylaxis effect, but also a higher effect on preventing muscle atrophy as a lower-extremity exercise device. Additionally, LEX could potentially be used safely in patients who need to be monitored for changes in circulatory dynamics.
卧床患者有发生静脉血栓栓塞症（VTE）的高风险。常用的被动装置如弹性压缩袜和间歇性气动压迫装置。腿部运动器（LEX）是一种主动装置，通过有效收缩比目鱼肌来预防 VTE，因此有望有效预防下肢失用。然而，关于 LEX 的运动学特性的研究很少。因此，本研究旨在比较 LEX 与常用的下肢运动装置测力计的运动特征，并研究其对肌肉活动和循环动力学两个领域的影响。
本研究采用交叉设计，每位参与者分别进行 LEX 和测力计（Terasu Erugo，SDG 株式会社，东京，日本）的运动，每次运动 5 分钟，每次运动后休息 10 分钟。使用表面肌电图（Clinical DTS，诺克斯顿，亚利桑那州，美国）测量肌肉活动，使用无创阻抗心输出量计（Physioflow Enduro，Manatec Biomedical，巴黎，法国）记录循环动力学。主要结局指标是运动过程中比目鱼肌最大随意收缩百分比（%MVC）的平均值。
LEX 组比目鱼肌的平均%MVC 明显更高，而各期和各序列之间无显著差异。运动时心率、每搏量和心输出量增加，运动后降低；然而，两种装置之间无显著差异。
LEX 不仅可能具有更高的血栓预防效果，而且作为一种下肢运动装置，对预防肌肉萎缩的效果也可能更高。此外，LEX 可能在需要监测循环动力学变化的患者中安全使用。
