Identification of diagnostic maneuvers positive for arterial compression in symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals who engage in regular weight training

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Arterial compression syndromes can be identified in asymptomatic individuals using specific diagnostic maneuvers involving palpation of peripheral pulses. OBJECTIVE: To identify diagnostic maneuvers positive for extrinsic compression in the upper and lower limbs of people who exercise regularly. METHODS: The sample consisted of people over 18 years old who had been attending a gym for a minimum of 1 hour per week and for at least 1 month. A data collection instrument comprising 20 questions was administered to the study participants, covering personal characteristics, the types of exercises engaged in and possible symptoms. The Adson, Hyperabduction and Costoclavicular maneuvers and also tests to reveal popliteal artery entrapment were performed. Data from the questionnaires and the maneuver results were analyzed using SPSS v.20.0. RESULTS: The study enrolled 202 volunteers who attended the gyms investigated, comprising 98 women and 104 men aged 18 to 63 (mean of 27 years). One hundred and seventy (84.2%) subjects were asymptomatic and 32 (15.8%) people reported some type of discomfort such as pain, paresthesia or a cool sensation. Ninety of the 202 individuals analyzed (44.6%) exhibited at least one positive maneuver. Total numbers of compressions per subject were as follows: two people (1%) had four positive maneuvers; 19 (9.4%) had three positive maneuvers; 31 (15.3%) had two positive maneuvers, 38 (18.8%) exhibited one positive maneuver and 112 (55 4%) people were positive for none of the maneuvers. The hyperabduction maneuver was the most prevalent maneuver. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic maneuvers positive for extrinsic arterial compression were identified in 44.6% of the asymptomatic individuals analyzed.