Limb Volume Measurement Research Articles

Development and clinical evaluation of a computerized limb volume measurement system (CLEMS).

Limb edema is a common problem in both rehabilitation and acute care settings. In the past, attempts to determine an optimal management strategy for limb edema have been limited by the lack of accurate, noninvasive, rapid, clinical tools for quantifying limb volumes. The water displacement method is slow and difficult to use in the clinical setting. Furthermore, water displacement requires that the limb be in a dependent position. The tape measure method is unreliable because it is difficult to position the tape measure on a swollen limb. The development and evaluation of a new tool called the computerized limb volume measurement system (CLEMS) is described. The shape and volume of a limb or limb segment can be rapidly measured by CLEMS, independent of limb position. The limb volumes generated by CLEMS were compared to volumes determined by water displacement and by a tape measure. Volumes of eighteen legs (plaster, nonedematous and edematous) were measured using CLEMS, water displacement, and the tape measure. In all cases, the CLEMS and water displacement methods showed close agreement. CLEMS was found to be a reliable and valid new method of determining limb volume; whereas, the tape measure method was found to be invalid. This new tool allows clinicians to measure the efficacy of different treatment strategies in the management of limb edema.

Electromyography of Rapid Forearm Flexion and Extension and Aging

This investigation examined several parameters of agonist- and antagonist-muscle activity and movement time in young and old males during rapid, forearm flexion and extension tasks. Maximal isometric strength of the forearm flexors and extensors and limb-volume measurements were also procured. The subject sample included sixteen males in each of the following groups: 1) thirty to forty year olds, 2) fifty to sixty year olds, and 3) sixty-one to seventy year olds. The averaged, electromyographic patterns (AEMG) of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles were recorded during unloaded and loaded trials of forearm flexion and extension to a predetermined target. Sixteen temporal and ten quantitative parameters were examined. Significant differences between age groups were observed for only the quantitative-parameter accuracy. The conclusions were that an individual's agonist- and antagonist-muscle-activity parameters are maintained into the seventh decade. Flexion and extension strengths decrease progressively with age. Analysis of the limb-volume measures revealed that the oldest group had the greatest amount of fat in each of the segments evaluated.

Limb volume measurements in peripheral arterial disease.

A simple method for measuring limb volumes of patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing limb blood flow measurement is described. The device uses the change in surface level of water in a cylindrical reservoir to generate a voltage which is amplified and converted to a volume. The plethysmograph is stable and accurate over a wide range of limb volumes. For patients with leg ulcers or gangrene, where water immersion is not possible, a geometrical model has been developed which allows the volume to be calculated from a series of six external measurements. Comparison with measured volumes in 46 patients has shown this model to be accurate with a mean error of 3.3%. It provides a convenient alternative to direct measurement in these patients.

The use of tonometry in the assessment of upper extremity lymphoedema

The use of a specially designed tissue tonometer in 17 lymphoedema patients, who were treated with multiple lymphaticovenous anastomoses, with a follow-up period of up to 18 months, gives a quantitative measurement of “softness” and correlates well with their subjective feeling. It would appear to complement limb volume and circumferential limb measurements.

Residual Muscular Soreness as Influenced by Concentric, Eccentric, and Static Contractions

Abstract Sixty subjects, 53 women and 7 men, were assigned at random to either concentric, eccentric, or static contraction groups. Residual muscular soreness was induced through exhaustive exercises performed on the nondominant arm. Muscular strength and limb volume measurements were taken before exercise, immediately after the bouts, and 24, 48, and 72 hr. later. Soreness was measured during the same time intervals by means of a rating scale. The results showed that eccentric contractions effected greater residual muscular soreness than concentric and static contractions, with the peak occurring after 48 hr. Muscular strength decreased appreciably following eccentric contraction, and remained depressed throughout the duration of the soreness period, while no significant differences in strength were found after concentric and static contractions. Limb volume increased in both exercised and unexercised arms immediately after exercise, regardless of the type of contraction. After 24, 48, and 72 hr., howeve...

The use of I 131 albumin tissue clearance measurements and other physiological tests for the clinical assessment of patients with lymphœdema

Summary 1.I 131 protein tissue clearance tests, serial limb volume studies during postural drainage and refilling, and differential pressure measurements have been carried out on a series of sixteen patients with idiopathic lymphœdema or secondary lymphœdema. The results obtained have been correlated with clinical findings, lymphangiograms and venograms, and also with data obtained from normal persons. 2.The data obtained enable the patients to be classified into two groups. The patients in Group 1 are those whose symptoms are due to lymphatic obstruction. In Group 2 the primary ˦tiological factor is thought to be venous obstruction. 3.The tissue protein clearance rate was greatly reduced in both groups. In Group 1 this was attributable to reduced lymphatic drainage. Correlation with limb volume studies suggested that the reduced clearance rate in Group 2 patients was due to an increase in the tissue fluid protein pool rather than to a reduction in the lymphatic drainage of protein. 4.Subcutaneous tissue hydrostatic pressures in normal females are approximately 7 mm. Hg lower than those in normal males. It is suggested that this might account for the greater incidence of lymphœdema in women. 5.In normal women the subcutaneous pressure is lower than the muscle pressure but in patients with lymphœdema this gradient is reversed. This provided the rationale for surgical operations designed to drain fluid from the subcutaneous tissues into underlying muscle. 6.The I 131 protein clearance studies are of little value for the initial assessment of individual patients but may well prove to be the most sensitive method for evaluating the response to treatment. Limb volume and drainage measurements and tissue pressure measurements are easy to perform and are likely to be clinically useful, but further studies on tissue pressure-volume relationships are needed for normal men and women and lymphœdema patients.

Effect of adrenalectomy and adreno-demedullation on experimental edema as measured under repeated ether anesthetizations.

SummaryIn experimental anti-edema studies, rats were subjected to varying numbers of hind limb volume measurements during a 6-hour period. Edema was induced by sub-plantar injection of mustard. Int...