Exercise Training as an Adjunctive Therapy for Chronic Venous Insufficiency Patients: Evidence from Research to Practice

Abstract

Chronic venous insufficiency, which is defined as a condition relevant to persistent ambulatory venous hypertension, is a common cause of venous leg ulcers. Compression therapy is commonly used to relieve ambulatory venous hypertension and heal leg ulcers. Exercise is considered as adjunctive therapy, targeting calf muscle pump function, to additionally favor the compression treatment for facilitating the healing process. Different exercise training regimens for promoting wound healing and its relevant outcomes are reviewed and discussed in this study.

Chronic venous insufficiency and venous leg ulcers: Aetiology, on the pathophysiology‐based treatment

“…Different forms of exercise and optimal exercise doses (including progressive resistance exercise, walking, and ankle exercises) are being compared 41 . Resistance exercise training, defined as an exercise strategy whereby muscles contract against an external resistance, revealed an approximately 70% reduction in ulcer area after exercise after 12 weeks of training, probably due to better skin oxygenation 42 …”

“… 41 Resistance exercise training, defined as an exercise strategy whereby muscles contract against an external resistance, revealed an approximately 70% reduction in ulcer area after exercise after 12 weeks of training, probably due to better skin oxygenation. 42 …”