Effect of Ankle Resisted Exercises on Venous Leg Ulcers Healing

Abstract

Background: Venous leg ulcers are open chronic wounds that occur within the gaiter region of the leg (from below the ankle, up to mid-calf) and are a consequence of venous insuffciency. They typically present as repeated cycles of ulceration, healing, and recurrence. Such ulcers can take weeks or months to heal, and 12-month recurrence rates are between 18% and 28%. They are painful, malodorous, prone to infection, and severely affect patients' mobility and quality of life, therefore resisted ankle exercises is improving calf muscle pump action by increasing ankle (plantar flexion) range of motion which improving venous system function in the lower leg and so improving 2 nd and 3 rd degrees of venous leg ulcers healing. Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of resisted ankle exercises on healing of venous leg ulcers. Subjects and Method: Thirty patients suffering from 2 nd and 3 rd chronic venous leg ulcers were recruited from Vascular Surgical Outpatient Clinic of Al-Hussien University Hospital. Their ages ranged from 45 to 60 years old: They distributed into two Groups (A & B). Group (A) "study group": Fifteen patients who received ankle resistance training exercise in addition to the traditional medical treatment. Group (B) "control group": Fifteen patients who received only the traditional medical treatment. Resistance training exercise was applied in the form 20 or 25 repetitions maximum at the end of the twelve week, three sessions per week, every other day, for three months. Results: Results showed that ankle resistance training exercise program was effective in improving healing of venous leg ulcers by decreasing ulcers' volume measured by sterilized saline solution by improving calf muscle pump function. Conclusion: Application of 12 weeks ankle resisted exercises in patient with 2nd and 3 rd degrees of chronic venous leg ulcers resulted in decreasing volume of venous ulcers and so increasing of healing rates.