Gait, ankle mobility, muscle strength, and functional performance in chronic venous insufficiency: A CEAP-based...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Orthopedics
• Physiotherapy

Background:

• Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a progressive condition impacting lower limb venous function, leading to venous hypertension and altered biomechanics.
• Patients with CVD often exhibit muscle weakness, reduced ankle mobility, and impaired gait, yet the effect of disease severity on these factors is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gait biomechanics, plantar flexor strength, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, and functional performance across mild, moderate, and severe CVD.
• To investigate the relationship between CVD severity (CEAP classification) and musculoskeletal and gait parameters.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving healthy individuals and patients with CVD classified by CEAP (mild, moderate, severe).
• Gait parameters (speed, stride length, stance time) assessed via motion capture.
• Plantar flexor strength measured using dynamometry.
• Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion evaluated with the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT).
• Functional performance assessed using the Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in spatiotemporal gait parameters were found between healthy individuals and CVD patients, or across CVD severity groups.
• Normalized plantar flexor strength significantly differed among CVD severity groups (p = .041).
• Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion significantly decreased with increasing CVD severity (p = .005), most notably in the severe group.
• No significant differences in HAP scores were observed across groups.

Conclusions:

• CVD severity is associated with reduced plantar flexor strength and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion.
• Spatiotemporal gait parameters do not appear to change significantly with CVD severity.
• Musculoskeletal impairments in CVD may precede detectable gait alterations, underscoring the need for early assessment and targeted rehabilitation.