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.
PorterJMMonetaGL. Reporting standards in venous disease: an update. International consensus committee on chronic venous disease. J Vasc Surg. 1995;21(4):635‐645.
3.
SantlerBGoergeT. Chronic venous insufficiency – a review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2017;15(5):538‐556.
SmithPD. Update on chronic-venous-insufficiency-induced inflammatory processes. Angiology. 2001;52(Suppl 1):S35‐S42.
6.
ArakiCTBackTLPadbergFT, et al.The significance of calf muscle pump function in venous ulceration. J Vasc Surg. 1994;20(6):872‐877.
7.
DixFPBrookeRMcCollumCN. Venous disease is associated with an impaired range of ankle movement. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2003;25(6):556‐561.
8.
YangDVandongenYKStaceyMC. Changes in calf muscle function in chronic venous disease. Cardiovasc Surg. 1999;7(4):451‐456.
9.
O’MearaSCullumNNelsonEADumvilleJC. Compression for venous leg ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;11(11):CD000265.
10.
JullAParagVWalkerNMaddisonRKerseNJohnsT. The prepare pilot RCT of home-based progressive resistance exercises for venous leg ulcers. J Wound Care. 2009;18(12):497‐503.
11.
O’BrienJEdwardsHStewartIGibbsH. A home-based progressive resistance exercise programme for patients with venous leg ulcers: a feasibility study. Int Wound J. 2013;10(4):389‐396.
12.
O’BrienJFinlaysonKKerrGEdwardsH. Evaluating the effectiveness of a self-management exercise intervention on wound healing, functional ability and health-related quality of life outcomes in adults with venous leg ulcers: a randomised controlled trial. Int Wound J. 2017;14(1):130‐137.
13.
YangDVandongenYKStaceyMC. Effect of exercise on calf muscle pump function in patients with chronic venous disease. Br J Surg. 1999;86(3):338‐341.
14.
MeagherHRyanDClarke-MoloneyMO’LaighinGGracePA. An experimental study of prescribed walking in the management of venous leg ulcers. J Wound Care. 2012;21(9):421‐422. 424-426, 428 passim.
15.
BremHKirsnerRSFalangaV. Protocol for the successful treatment of venous ulcers. Am J Surg. 2004;188(1A Suppl):1‐8.
16.
NairB. Compression therapy for venous leg ulcers. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014;5(3):378‐382.
ChandlerTJBrownLE. Conditioning for strength and human performance. 2nd ed.Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013.
19.
MutlakOAslamMStandfieldN. The influence of exercise on ulcer healing in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Int Angiol. 2018;37(2):160‐168.
20.
KanYMDelisKT. Hemodynamic effects of supervised calf muscle exercise in patients with venous leg ulceration: a prospective controlled study. Arch Surg. 2001;136(12):1364‐1369.
21.
DaviesJABullRHFarrellyIJWakelinMJ. A home-based exercise programme improves ankle range of motion in long-term venous ulcer patients. Phlebology. 2007;22(2):86‐89.
22.
JullASlarkJParsonsJ. Prescribed exercise with compression versus compression alone in treating patients with venous leg ulcers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(11):1304‐1311.
23.
KulprachakarnKNantakoolSRojawatC, et al.Effectiveness of combined conventional treatment with a tailored exercise training program on wound healing in patients with venous leg ulcer: a randomized controlled trial. J Tissue Viability. Forthcoming 2021.
24.
PadbergFTJrJohnstonMVSistoSA. Structured exercise improves calf muscle pump function in chronic venous insufficiency: a randomized trial. J Vasc Surg. 2004;39(1):79‐87.
25.
ZajkowskiPJDraperTBloomJHenkePKWakefieldTW. Exercise with compression stockings improves reflux in patients with mild chronic venous insufficiency. Phlebology. 2009;21(2):100‐104.