Evaluation of Lower Limb Arteriovenous Diameters in Indoor Soccer Athletes: Arterial Doppler Ultrasound Study.

Sónia Mateus,Francisco Rodrigues,Vasco Marques,Henrique P Neiva,Rui Paulo,Patrícia Coelho,Pedro Duarte-Mendes

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.687613

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the arterial and venous diameters of lower limbs in indoor soccer athletes and non-athletes using Doppler ultrasound to identify the differences in the variation of arterial and venous diameters between groups. Additionally, we intended to verify the differences of arterial and venous diameters between the skilled member (right member) and the not skilled member in each group. 74 male volunteers, aged between 19 and 30 years old, were divided in a group of athletes (n = 37, 24 ± 2.7 years, soccer players from national championship), and a group of non-athletes (n = 37, 26 ± 2.83 years). Vascular lower limb was assessed using Doppler ultrasound (Philips HD7 echograph with linear transducer 7–12 MHz). The athletes showed higher diameters of right common femoral artery (p = 0.009; moderate), left common femoral artery (p = 0.005; moderate), right deep femoral artery (p = 0.013; moderate), right popliteal artery (p = 0.003; moderate), and left popliteal artery (p = 0.017; small) than non-athletes. Veins’ diameters were also higher in athletes, specifically the right deep femoral vein (p ≤ 0.001; large), left deep femoral vein (p ≤ 0.001; large), right popliteal vein (p ≤ 0.001; large), and left popliteal vein (p ≤ 0.001; large). Differences were found between the skilled and non-skilled leg in athletes in the popliteal vein (7.68 ± 1.44 mm vs. 7.22 ± 1.09 mm, respectively, p < 0.003). It seems that futsal athletes have superior mean diameters of lower limbs arteries and veins of the deep venous system to non-athletes. Moreover, the veins presented greater dilation, namely of the leg of the skilled lower limb.

Highlights

Arterial and venous systems are different systems, namely in their constitution, giving them very specific characteristics, such as plasticity
The main objective of the present study was to analyze the arterial and venous diameters of the lower limbs in indoor soccer athletes and non-athletes, using arterial and venous lower limbs Doppler ultrasound was used to identify the differences in the variation of arterial and venous diameters between groups
We found differences in the diameter of the right deep femoral vein (p ≤ 0.001; big), in the diameter of the left deep femoral vein (p ≤ 0.001; big), in the diameter of the right popliteal vein (p ≤ 0.001; big), and in the diameter of the left popliteal vein (p ≤ 0.001; big), showing that the group of athletes had the highest values

Summary

Introduction

Arterial and venous systems are different systems, namely in their constitution, giving them very specific characteristics, such as plasticity. According to Brown (2003) the impact of training endurance exercises on the expansion of vessels, namely the capillaries, is well established, with an increase in the size of the arteries that supply the muscles in effort in individuals who practice endurance exercises (Brown, 2003). These increases can be found in the arteries that nourish the active muscles, suggesting that the increase in arterial diameter is associated with the repeated increase in blood pressure caused by the peak blood flow responses to exertion (Sugawara et al, 2007). Veins are vessels that, compared to arteries, have a thinner middle layer, with fewer muscle fibers, and less plasticity (Cunha da Silva et al, 2010)

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