The muscle pump function in chronic venous insufficiency: plethysmographic results.

The frequency and the severity of skin lesions were studied in patients with chronic venous insufficiency compared to the function of the muscle pump measured with plethysmography. The study showed that the frequency of skin symptoms parallels the muscle pump dysfunction. Measuring the ambulatory volume change on the calf level and the refilling time required for the normalisation of the calf volume after dorsiflexions of the foot gives suitable parameters for the evaluation of the muscle pump. The plethysmography is a valuable method to quantify the grade of venous insufficiency.