Effect of Elastic Taping Applications of Calf Muscle Pump on the Venous Reflux in patients with Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Abstract

Persistent venous hypertension is a pathological condition occurring in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), as a consequence of venous reflux and/or obstruction and calf muscle pump function failure. The main non-invasive treatment options for improving venous functions and hemodynamics are compression and rehabilitation program of physical activities and modalities. Elastic taping (ET) is one of therapy modality aimed to assist muscle function, increasing lymphatic and vascular flow, correction of joint problems and activation of sensory system. The objective of this study was to assess the eff1ect of ET applications of lateral gastrocnemius (LG), medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles on it muscles activities and venous reflux after 4 days of application. This is a matched control pre-post study with consecutive sampling. A twenty lower limbs from 10 women with bilateral mild CVI were randomized into control and intervention group. The subjects of each group underwent initial and 4 days after intervention measurement of maximal amplitude of GL, GM, and TA muscles during active contraction and ambulation using surface electromyography (sEMG). Venous reflux of femoral (FV) and popliteal (PV) veins were evaluate using duplex ultrasonography. This study was analyzed with Wilcoxon signed ranks test and Mann-Whitney test. Significant increase of maximal amplitude of the GL and TA muscles during active contraction, also GM muscle during ambulation after 4 days of ET application within intervention group. Significant decrease in the duration of PV reflux after 4 days of ET application within intervention group. Significant difference in the duration of PV reflux when compared to the control group. The conclusions are ET applications of the calf muscle pump system in patient with mild CVI may have an effect of increased muscle activity during active contractions and ambulation expressed as maximum amplitude in sEMG, and also decrease the duration of PV reflux.