VASCULAR FOOT ASSESSMENTArterial and venous supply can be tested at the foot level. Pulses can be palpated, and many venous insufficiency symptoms are present around the ankle. A Chiropodist may use a Doppler to hear for proper blood flow, they may also test the blood pressure at the ankle and compare it to the brachial pressure. Change in ankle/brachial pressures indicate arterial insufficiency. Altered dermatological conditions can also be indicative of venous and arterial insufficiency. Like the heart to arterial blood flow, the calf is the main muscle for blood return to the heart. A Chiropodist may be able to see venous problems before the patient is aware. Compression stockings are a great treatment option for helping the calf return blood to the heart.
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