DESCRIPTION
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
PT IMPLICATIONS
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- Pain is usually bilateral with no burning or dyesthesia
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
- Pain when exercising
- Intermittent pain
- Pain at rest
- Discolored skin or ulcerations
- An aching or burning feeling
- Weekness
- trophic changes (thin dry hairless skin)
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
- Checking the pulses in your feet
- Ankle-brachial index to compare the blood pressure in your ankles to the blood pressure in your arms
- Doppler ultrasound, which monitors blood flow in the area affected
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) angiography to show damage to blood vessels
PT IMPLICATIONS
- Some of the problems that patients with impaired peripheral vascular systems present with are impaired skin integrity, pain, decreased endurance and impaired mobility. Patients with impaired skin integrity can develop ulcers which often do not heal on their own. Decreased activity and mobility as well as pain can result in weakness, joint contractures, impaired aerobic capacity, and edema. The converse is also true, that is that weakness, contractures and edema can cause decreased function and increased pain. All these problems can lead to patients having difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADL) and complying with medical interventions. Patients may also lack knowledge about weight-bearing restrictions, wound healing and skin protection, safety awareness, and the importance of activity progression. Physical therapy can be involved with addressing all these problems in a variety of ways.
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