Assessment of Edematous Changes Using Three-Dimensional Body Scanning and Segmental–Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy

Abstract

Purpose The primary purpose of this study was to clarify the occurrence of sites of edematous changes using the measured circumferences of the thigh and lower leg via 3D body scanning. The secondary purpose was to determine the relationship between the volume changes using 3D body scanning and the resistance changes as indicator of extracellular water (ECW) via segmental-bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (S-BIS).Methods Fifteen healthy women participated. Limb circumferences were measured using 3D body scanning at 10% intervals between 50 and 80% in the thigh circumference and between 0 and 80% in the lower-leg circumference. The resistance of the ECW component (RECW) and total body water (RTBW) was measured using S-BIS in the thigh and lower-leg segments. These measurements were conducted at baseline and 6-h post-observation. A paired t-test was conducted for the differences in these parameters, and the effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d. Correlations between changes in segmental volume and RECW were analyzed.Results Measurement-site circumferences and segmental volume significantly increased in the lower leg at post-observation but not in the thigh. The effect size (ES) of circumference changes in the lower leg's central region was larger (ESs were 0.40-0.71 at 30-50%) than in other regions. A significant correlation was observed between changes in segmental volume and RECW of the lower leg (ρ = -0.79, p<0.001).