Heel-rise test in the assessment of individuals with peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Abstract

IntroductionThe Heel-Rise Test (HRT) is a clinical instrument relevant to vascular rehabilitation that has been proposed to assess the function of the triceps surae muscle. To use HRT in the assessment of individuals with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), its ability to detect differences in the functional performance of patients with PAOD must be verified.AimTo verify whether the test is sensitive in differentiating between individuals with PAOD with distinct functional capacities.Materials and methodsA transversal study in which individuals with PAOD were assessed using the HRT, the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ), and the Shuttle Walk Test. The following variables were analyzed: number of plantar flexions performed in the HRT (time in seconds) and velocity (plantar flexions per second) when performing plantar flexions up to the point of volunteer fatigue, maximum distance walked in the Shuttle Walk Test, and scores obtained in each WIQ domain.ResultsTwenty-five individuals (14 male) were included in the study, with a mean age of 63.36 ± 9.83 years. The variables number of plantar flexions and time to perform the HRT were sensitive enough to differentiate between distinct functional capacities in individuals with PAOD (P = 0.003 and P = 0.009, respectively). However, this result was not found for the variable of velocity in the HRT. The number of plantar flexions in the HRT was sensitive enough to differentiate individuals of extreme classes on the WIQ domain, stairs (P = 0.008).ConclusionThe HRT can be applied in clinical practice as a valid assessment of the distinct function capacities of individuals with PAOD.

Short-term microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation to improve muscle function in the elderly

“…Single leg heel-rise test (HRT) [ 16 , 17 ] was designed to evaluate muscle endurance in elderly subjects. The parameters of HRT were: number of plantar flexions, time in seconds, and velocity (plantar flexions per second).…”

Short-term treatment with a novel HIF-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (GSK1278863) failed to improve measures of performance in subjects with claudication-limited peripheral artery disease

“…After familiarization with the test at the screening visit, calf muscle endurance in a standardized bilateral heel rise test was assessed using the number of heel rises at the onset of claudication, total number of heel rises, time to onset of claudication, time to intolerable claudication pain or maximum calf muscle fatigue, and Heel Rise Work Index (HRWI) -and adjudicated by a central core laboratory. 19 Six-minute walk test. The test involved the subject walking at a self-selected pace for 6 minutes through a predefined walking course of 50 feet with cones marking the boundaries; there was a rest for a minimum of 1 hour between the heel rise test and 6MWT.…”

Reference values for the bilateral heel-rise test

“…Several methods have been used to assess the strength and endurance of this muscle, such as dynamometers, isokinetic dynamometers, or functional tests including the heel-rise test (HRT). The HRT is used to quantify clinical conditions that affect the triceps surae, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), 9 , 10 , 11 Achilles tendon injury, 12 , 13 stroke, 14 chronic venous insufficiency, 5 , 15 and health conditions related to old age. 16 The HRT evaluates various properties of the triceps surae, such as strength, endurance, fatigue, muscle function, and performance.…”