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Article

Ankle-Brachial Index Is a Good Determinant of Lower Limb Muscular Strength but Not of the Gait Pattern in PAD Patients

by
Małgorzata Stefańska
1,
Katarzyna Bulińska
1,
Marek Woźniewski
1,
Andrzej Szuba
2,3 and
Wioletta Dziubek
1,*
1
Department of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, al. Ignacego Jana Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
2
Department of Angiology, Hypertension and Diabetology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
3
WROVASC—An Integrated Cardiovascular Centre, Specialist District Hospital in Wroclaw, Centre for Research and Development, H. Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wroclaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Symmetry 2021, 13(9), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13091709
Submission received: 31 July 2021 / Revised: 8 September 2021 / Accepted: 10 September 2021 / Published: 15 September 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry Applied in Biomechanics and Mechanical Engineering)

Abstract

:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) level with kinetic and kinematic parameters of the gait pattern and force-velocity parameters generated by lower limb muscles. Methods: The study group consisted of 65 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The ABI value, kinetic and kinematic parameters of gait and force-velocity parameters of knee and ankle extensors and flexors were determined in all subjects. The values obtained for right and left limbs as well as the limbs with higher and lower ABI were compared. Results: Regardless of the method of analysis, the values of the gait’s kinematic and kinetic parameters of both lower limbs did not differ significantly. However, significant differences were noted in the values of peak torque, work and power of the extensor muscles of the knee and the flexor muscles of the ankle with the higher and lower ABI. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a higher degree of ischemia worsened the level of strength, endurance, and performance of ankle flexors and extensors of the knee joint. ABI is not related to the gait pattern. The above-mentioned relationship should be taken into account in the rehabilitation process and methodological assessment.

1. Introduction

Hemodynamic studies with ankle-brachial index (ABI) estimation are not completely reliable in assessing functional capacity in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This is shown especially in the distance covered [1], which is also verified by McDermott et al. [2] in their 5-year follow-up. However, there are a number of studies that have confirmed this relationship [3,4,5,6]. The discrepancies resulting from the number of subjects and the use of different research protocols were the reason for undertaking an extended analysis of gait pattern and muscle function in patients with PAD and verifying them with ABI results.
The authors point to functional limitations in walking ability, balance, lower limb strength, and general functional performance in individuals presenting with lower ABI scores [2,3,4,7,8,9,10]. Reduced blood supply to muscles through narrowed arterial lumen, deterioration of tissue trophism, persistent inflammation, lower extremity pain, and comorbidities are the most commonly cited causes of functional impairment among patients with PAD [2,8,11].
Atherosclerotic lesions in the vessels of the lower extremities usually are asymmetric, as demonstrated by varying ABI values. Differences in muscle strength of the right and left lower limbs and differences in gait pattern are observed in people with PAD compared to healthy subjects [12,13,14,15]. For this reason, many studies analyze the relationship of the ABI with functional parameters taking into account the right and left side, often indicating the dominant side or considering the results from the lower limb presenting a lower ABI. However, it is noted that not the side but the degree of ischemia may provide more information about the relationship of the ankle-brachial index with functional parameters of individuals with PAD [2,4,7,8,9,10]. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship of the ankle-brachial index level with kinetic and kinematic parameters of gait pattern and force-velocity parameters generated by lower limb muscles based on the analysis of sides (right and left lower limb) and degree of ischemia (high, low ABI).

2. Material and Method

This work is part of the project “WROVASC—Integrated Center for Cardiovascular Medicine”, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, under the Innovative Economy Operational Program for 2007–2013, implemented in the Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Research and Development Center.
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Wroclaw, Poland (Ref.KB-130/2008). These studies were registered in the clinical trial database—the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Trial Id: ACTRN12621000780853).

2.1. Study Group

The study group consisted of 65 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Inclusion criteria were: age over 40 years, demonstrated chronic lower extremity arterial disease (PAD) class IIa and IIb in the Fontaine classification, intermittent claudication (IC), ankle-brachial index (ABI) lower than 0.9 in at least one limb and different for the right and left limbs, good clinical condition of the patient, and written informed consent to participate in the program.
Exclusion criteria were PAD Fontaine I and III/IV, non-controlled internal and cardiovascular diseases, revascularization procedures performed during the last 3 months, overall poor health, psychiatric illness. The general characteristics of the subjects are shown in Table 1. A detailed history and qualifying examination revealed a femoropopliteal type of occlusion in 61 patients of the study group (82%), an aorto-iliac type in 9 (12%), and multilevel (3 subjects) and peripheral (1 subject) in the remaining patients. Significant results of the qualifying study are shown in Table 2.
Patients applied for participation in the program in response to widely disseminated announcements in the media and health centers. Recruitment of patients to participate in the program was based on a medical consultation taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria and completion of preliminary examinations. During the medical consultation, which took place in the health care facilities in Wrocław, all patients had the ankle-brachial index measured. On the next day, in the research laboratories of the Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, a gait test was performed, followed by an assessment of the force-velocity parameters of the lower limb muscles. Individual tests were performed by a qualified technician of the device. A schematic of the study is shown in Figure 1.

2.2. Test Methods

2.2.1. Measuring the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) was determined by measuring systolic blood pressure at the upper and lower extremities using continuous wave Doppler (Multi Dopplex II Vascular Doppler, Huntleigh, Wales, UK). First, measurements were taken on both brachial arteries, and the higher of the obtained values was considered. Next, arterial pressure was measured on the arteries of the foot (tibialis posterior and dorsal artery of the foot), also taking into account the higher of the obtained values. The ABI index was the quotient of the systolic pressure measured at the foot to the systolic pressure at the arm. The measurements were performed in the supine position of the subject, with the patient staying in the given position for 10 min to normalize hemodynamic parameters before starting the measurements [16].

2.2.2. Gait Biomechanics Testing

To record kinematic and kinetic parameters of gait, an optoelectronic system for three-plane motion analysis BTS Smart-E equipped with six digital cameras operating in the infrared range (1.1 μM) at 200 Hz and two Network Cam AXIS 210A cameras operating in the visible light range at 20 Hz was used. The set-up was complemented by two dynamometer platforms (Kistler 9286) with signal recording at 200 Hz forming the central part of the 10 m path. All devices made measurements synchronously.
Before testing, 22 photoreflective passive markers corresponding to selected anthropometric points were placed on the patient’s body according to the Davis protocol. A schematic of the gait analysis laboratory and the course of the study are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.
Patients performed 10–15 recorded passes. Only measurements in which each foot made full sole contact with the dynamometer platform during one pass were included for further analysis. Recording was conducted until a minimum of three correct records of the ground reaction forces of both feet were obtained. The data recorded by the cameras was transferred to a computer system, and then, using the Smart software, the signal recorded from the markers was identified and the coordinates of the markers in the three-plane space were determined, which allowed for the calculation of kinematic and dynamic quantities. Digitally processed images from the cameras enabled registration of step length (length STRIDE (m) and double step length, step velocity and transfer phase (velSTRIDE (m/s) and velSWING (m/s)), step duration–transfer phase and support (tSTRIDE (s), tSWING (s) and tSTANCE (s)). The three-plane registration of ground reaction forces enabled the analysis of vertical loading during heel rest (VEmax1), rolling (VEmin) and rebound (VEmax2), anteroposterior load distribution (APmax and min) and lateral load distribution (ML max and min). For further analysis, all ground force response values for each subject were presented as a percentage of body weight (%BW).
The research and analysis of gait biomechanics were performed at the Laboratory of Biomechanical Analysis, AWF in Wrocław.

2.3. Studies on Force-Velocity Parameters of Flexor and Extensor Muscles at the Knee and Ankle-Shin Joint

Strength capacity of muscles—flexors and extensors of the knee joint and flexors and extensors of the ankle and knee joint—was assessed using a Biodex S4 Pro dynamometer (Shirley, NY, USA). An isokinetic mode of operation was used to record the time courses of muscle force moments at an adjustable load in the form of a constant angular velocity of movement. The test protocol was identical for the knee and ankle and knee joint muscles. The loads used were 60, 120, and 180 °/s. At each given load, the subject performed 5 alternating flexion and extension movements separated by a 60 s pause. In each movement there, was an imperative to perform the given action with the maximum possible force in the shortest possible time.
Prior to the measurements, the chair and dynamometer, as well as the appropriate attachment of the device, were set up so that the tip of the dynamometer was an extension of the axis of rotation in the tested joint. The same flexion and extension ranges of motion of 90° for the knee joint and 50° for the ankle and knee joint were established for all subjects. The subject’s thigh and pelvis were stabilized with straps attached to the chair to eliminate movement of adjacent joints. The starting position of the test was the maximum flexion of the lower limb in the tested joint. Before the first measurement and after each load change, each subject performed 3 submaximal flexion and extension movements at the tested joint and 1 maximal movement to familiarize themselves with the set load [17]. The system for the analysis of force-velocity parameters is shown in Figure 4.
Muscle function parameters were recorded during the test: peak torque (Pt) (Nm), total work (TW) (J) and average power (aP) (W).

2.4. Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics were calculated. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to check the distribution of all analyzed parameters. When the distribution of a variable was normal, Student’s t-test was used to determine the significance of differences, whereas when the distribution did not have the characteristics of normality, Wilcoxon’s paired rank test was applied. The significance level was p < 0.05. All calculations were performed using Statistica 13.3 software.

3. Results

Analyzing the ABI value showed no statistically significant differences between the average values calculated for the right and left limb for the whole group. However, statistically significant differences were observed when ABI values of the limb with higher and lower index values were compared (Table 3). For both the right and left limb, ABI values that were within normal range or indicative of a mild decrease were observed in more than 50% of the subjects. However, when comparing the limb in which the higher ABI was measured to the limb with the lower ABI, a greater variation in results was observed. In both groups, more than 30% of the subjects had ABI values between 0.89 and 0.70, indicative of a mild reduction. In the limb with the higher ratio, more than 40% of the cases were ABI ≥ 0.90 (normative and borderline values), while in the limb with the lower ratio, more than 70% were individuals whose ABI was in the 0.69–0.40 range indicative of moderate decline (Table 4) [18].
Given the variation in ABI coefficient values depending on the mode of comparison, the assessment of locomotor symmetry was performed in two steps. In the first step, all analyzed right-to-left limb variables were compared.
In step two, instead of the classic analysis (right to left) in all subjects, the values measured for the limb with the higher ABI (ABI H) were compared to the values measured for the limb with the lower ABI (ABI L).
Analyzing the magnitudes of the ground reaction forces and the timespace parameters of gait, no statistically significant differences were found either between the right and left limbs or between the values obtained by the limb with the higher and lower coefficient (Table 5 and Table 6).
Regardless of the load, no statistically significant differences at the level of strength parameters of the analyzed muscles of the right and left limb were found (Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). However, when comparing the strength parameters of the limb with a higher ABI index (ABI H) to the values obtained by the limb with a lower index (ABI L), significant differences were observed. The limb with the higher ABI registered significantly higher peak torque (Pt), total work (TW), and average power (aP) values measured for the ankle flexors and knee extensors at each of the applied loads (Table 7, Table 8, Table 9 and Table 10).

4. Discussion

Our findings suggest that analysis of higher and lower ankle-brachial index with functional parameters is more appropriate than analysis of limb side. Therefore, our research presents mainly the effect of the degree of lower limb ischemia on gait kinematic, kinetic parameters and force-velocity parameters. Considering the right, left lower limb as well as the extremity with higher or lower ABI index, we could not confirm that the lower limb ischemia had an influence on the gait pattern of patients with PAD. However, our study of gait biomechanics was performed only under pain-free walking conditions and did not examine the gait during ischemic pain. The degree of ischemia may affect the muscle function involved in gait rather than the gait pattern itself. Therefore, gait analysis would require further assessment (e.g., including EMG studies).
An important aspect of the analysis is gait symmetry. From a pathophysiological point of view, severed blood supply to limbs weakens the muscles, which can disturb gait symmetry. However, both of our two-way analyses of temporal-spatial parameters and ground reaction forces did not confirm gait asymmetry in patients with PAD. This is not a normal condition, as previous studies confirm many abnormalities in gait pattern in patients with PAD [14,15,19,20,21]. The symmetrical gait is likely due to the similar ankle-brachial index values presented in the right and left lower limbs in the subjects. The aspect of gait symmetry would need to be verified during the claudication conditions.
As suggested by Sadeghi et al. [22], muscle strength is a good indicator of the ability to propel the body and to control balance during gait. Reduction in muscle strength and endurance along with impaired postural control during gait results from muscle fiber atrophy and altered muscle metabolism among individuals with PAD [12,23,24,25,26]. This contributes to an increased risk of falls and decreased mobility during walking or stair climbing [4,19,27]. The degree of lower extremity arterial ischemia therefore has a significant impact on the level of lower extremity muscle strength, which translates to the walking ability of individuals with PAD [3,5,10,28].
A study by Chen et al. [29], which assessed peak torque at lower limb joints under pain-free and pain-induced walking conditions, found no relationship between lower limb muscle strength and ABI scores. However, we found that force-velocity parameters evaluating peak torque, average power, total work of knee extensors and ankle flexors are dependent on the degree of lower limb ischemia. The limb side plays no role in this relationship. The generation of maximal muscular force, muscular endurance, and the engagement of motor units are closely related to their nutrition, which ensures proper blood flow [12,23,30]. The ability of muscles to undertake efforts of both strength and endurance nature (such as climbing stairs, getting up from a chair, walking a long distance) is of great importance for daily living. Impairment of muscle blood perfusion affects mainly their strength and endurance, and not a gait pattern, which engages muscles in a natural way as a reflex.
Considering the vascular system supplying the muscle groups, the most common hemodynamic abnormalities are observed at the femoropopliteal level, which are diagnosed in at least half of individuals with PAD [13,31,32]. The calf muscles, which are supplied by the posterior tibial and fibular arteries, are responsible for plantar flexion of the foot. In gait, this movement plays an important role in the support phase and propulsion of the foot and, together with the toe flexors, contributes to the acquisition of momentum through the body [20,33,34].
In our study, conducted under isokinetic conditions at angular velocities of 60 and 120 °/s, all force-velocity parameters of the ankle flexors are related to the ankle-brachial index level. This is also confirmed by McDermott et al. [35], who obtained a dependence of ABI values on the peak torque and power of the calf muscles but under isometric conditions. In contrast, at an angular velocity of 180 °/s, which is associated with low resistance and high repetition rates, a difference was obtained only between ABI and average power. Presumably, this is due to the rapid contraction and diastole of muscle fibers over a longer time interval, creating ischemic conditions during muscle work. The pathological reduction in the number and size of slow-twitch muscle fibers and the area of fast-twitch muscle fibers, the reduction in the number of capillaries per number of muscle fibers and motor units [25,26,36,37], are probably contributing to the inability to maintain a high-intensity effort for several seconds (e.g., running up to a tram or bus). It appears that the endurance of the calf muscles in people with PAD is estimated to be 30–40% compared to healthy individuals [26,36]. The study by White et al. [37] further confirms that reduced walking ability may also be influenced by mitochondrial damage, which reduces the oxidative capacity of calf muscles.
The muscles of the knee joint in individuals with PAD are also weakened, less efficient, and less enduring compared to the healthy individuals [2,12,20,23,35]. In our study, the peak torque of the knee joint flexors shows a relationship with the high, low ABI at moderate angular velocity (120 °/s), while at the highest velocity (180 °/s) this relationship was only shown in the average power. Thus, it is interesting that only the knee extensors of subjects with PAD are dependent on the degree of lower limb ischemia at all velocities analyzed. It would seem, firstly: that these muscles do not play an as important role in walking as the knee joint flexors, which was suggested by Camara et al. [23]. Knee extensors during the gait are responsible for postural stability and the risk of falls in people with PAD [17]. Secondly: the arteries supplying these muscles are less frequently constricted compared to those of the distal parts of the lower limbs [31,32,38]. However, the deep femoral artery and its branches are the major collateral blood supply route to the calf muscles in subjects with femoropopliteal arterial occlusion. Therefore, ischemia of the knee extensor muscles can result from a stealing phenomenon. Under conditions of isometric contraction, it has been confirmed that the greater ischemia, the lower power of the knee joint extensors. This relationship was not confirmed by the peak torque parameter [35]. Similarly, McDermott, Criqui et al. [3] demonstrated the relationship of ABI with the power of extensors of the knee joint. It turns out that the power parameter of the extensors of the knee joint is the most important predictor of functional ability in older people [39], which in everyday life is most often expressed in getting up from a chair or climbing stairs.
In physiological gait, the rectus femoris muscle is activated only during the stance to swing transition, and the knee joint extension during the swing phase is performed passively. The three heads of quadriceps femoris (medial, vastus, lateral) are activated during the double support phase and have a stabilizing effect on the knee joint [40]. When analyzing activities of daily living, the function of the quadriceps femoris muscles is therefore more marked in getting up from a chair than in the gait function itself. This confirmed that gait speed of people with PAD is dependent on the speed of rising from a chair [41]. Additionally, in individuals with chronic lower extremity ischemia, knee extensors engage as much as 10% slower during the supporting phase of gait compared to healthy individuals, which is due to impaired neuromuscular conduction function [42,43]. Neuromuscular slowdown also affects the plantar flexors of the foot as a result of chronic ischemia [43].

5. Conclusions

In conclusion, this research suggests that the analysis of the ankle-brachial index based on its higher, lower values gives reliable information about changes in the gait pattern and muscle strength and endurance in PAD patients. The comparison of right to the left lower limbs in PAD patients showed no influence on the analyses of the ABI with the functional parameters. Verification of differences between muscle force-velocity parameters and the severity of the leg ischemia was confirmed in the assessment of the ankle flexors and knee extensors in all analyzed parameters. It means that the higher degree of ABI is connected with worsening of the strength, endurance, and performance of the ankle flexors and knee extensors. Interestingly, ABI is not related to the gait pattern. This should be taken into account during the methodological assessment and planning of the rehabilitation process for people with different degrees of ischemia. Further research is required.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, A.S. and M.W.; methodology, M.S., K.B. and W.D.; validation M.S., K.B. and W.D.; formal analysis, M.S.; investigation, M.S., K.B. and W.D.; resources, A.S. and M.W.; data curation, M.S. and K.B.; writing—original draft preparation, M.S., K.B. and W.D.; writing—review and editing, M.S., K.B. and W.D.; visualization, M.S.; supervision, A.S.; project administration, A.S. and M.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the “WROVASC—Integrated Center for Cardiovascular Medicine” project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Innovative Economy Operational Program 2007–2013, and implemented at the Research and Development Center of the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Wroclaw, Poland (Ref.KB-130/2008). These studies were registered in the clinical trial database—the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Trial Id: ACTRN12621000780853).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. Written informed consent has been obtained from the patient(s) to publish this paper.

Data Availability Statement

All data supporting reported results can be found in the archives of the Wrovasc Research Centre (https://www.wssobr-wroc.pl/projekty/wrovasc/).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the study.
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the study.
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Figure 2. Schematic diagram of the gait analysis laboratory (source: device manual BTS Smart).
Figure 2. Schematic diagram of the gait analysis laboratory (source: device manual BTS Smart).
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Figure 3. Schematic diagram of the gait analysis test.
Figure 3. Schematic diagram of the gait analysis test.
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Figure 4. Measurement of force-velocity parameters of flexor and extensor muscles of the knee and ankle (Biodex System 4; own source).
Figure 4. Measurement of force-velocity parameters of flexor and extensor muscles of the knee and ankle (Biodex System 4; own source).
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Table 1. General characteristics of participants.
Table 1. General characteristics of participants.
N = 65MeanMedianSDIQR
Age (year)67.2664.008.3714.00
Body height (cm)168.60170.008.6614.00
Body mass (kg)78.9480.0014.5218.00
BMI (kg/m2)27.6728.014.015.29
N—group size; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; BMI—body mass index.
Table 2. Qualifying examination results.
Table 2. Qualifying examination results.
NoYes
N%N%
Smoking5473.02027.0
Diabetes type 24560.82939.2
Hypertension1925.75574.3
Orthopedic diseases5168.92331.1
Revascularisation4966.22533.8
Heart rate femoral artery1824.35675.7
Heart rate popliteal artery2939.24560.8
N—group size; %—percentage of total participants.
Table 3. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) values according to the mode of analysis.
Table 3. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) values according to the mode of analysis.
MeanMedianSDIQRp Test T
ABI Right0.740.760.200.280.3046
ABI Left0.700.660.180.29
ABI High0.840.850.160.280.0000 *
ABI Low0.600.600.140.22
* p < 0.05; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; ABI High—the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI Low—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
Table 4. Variation in ABI values by mode of analysis.
Table 4. Variation in ABI values by mode of analysis.
ABI Right (%)ABI Left (%)ABI H (%)ABI L (%)
Normal (1.0–1.3)13.859.2323.08-
Borderline (0.90–<1.0)9.239.2318.46-
Mild PAD (<90–>0.70)32.3129.2333.8527.69
Moderate PAD (<0.70–>0.40)43.0852.3124.6270.77
Severe PAD (<0.40)1.54--1.54
ABI in accordance with Firnhaber and Powell [18]; ABI H—the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI L—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
Table 5. Analysis of three-plane ground reaction force values during gait according to analysis method.
Table 5. Analysis of three-plane ground reaction force values during gait according to analysis method.
MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test
VE (%BW)max 1R99.6599.215.087.420.7559ABI H99.5299.155.155.230.4450
L99.3899.164.494.69ABI L99.7699.284.806.15
max 2R104.34104.965.907.950.3417ABI H104.46104.205.437.510.2673
L103.64103.515.088.14ABI L103.51103.685.557.55
minR87.3387.924.695.050.3646ABI H86.9387.124.795.000.1480
L87.0387.504.283.98ABI L87.6787.873.724.25
AP (%BW)maxR13.5613.423.233.410.0801ABI H13.3713.213.163.640.8912
L13.0612.733.024.05ABI L13.2413.133.114.20
minR−11.18−11.063.193.960.4025ABI H−11.48−11.603.343.690.0997
L−11.05−10.922.774.02ABI L−10.91−10.782.814.39
ML (%BW)maxR5.996.011.462.010.8263ABI H7.436.433.302.890.9238
L6.016.001.351.87ABI L7.426.313.412.48
minR−2.89−2.911.251.850.0098ABI H−4.55−3.283.762.250.3061
L−2.44−2.621.021.56ABI L−3.84−2.883.201.95
* p < 0.05; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; p T/W test—p-value of t-test or Wilcoxon test; VE—vertical force; AP—anterior-posterior force; ML—medio-lateral force; BW—body weight; R—right side, L—left side; ABI H—the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI L—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
Table 6. Symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters according to the mode of analysis.
Table 6. Symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters according to the mode of analysis.
MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test
velocity (m/s)strideR0.920.910.190.150.4726ABI H0.920.910.200.150.0926
L0.910.910.190.15ABI L0.910.910.190.15
swingR2.272.300.390.340.3672ABI H2.282.280.390.310.8065
L2.262.270.400.35ABI L2.262.290.430.35
time (s)strideR1.221.190.150.120.6874ABI H1.221.190.140.120.2682
L1.221.190.140.12ABI L1.221.190.150.12
stanceR0.790.760.110.110.4323ABI H0.780.760.140.110.4479
L0.780.770.140.13ABI L0.790.770.110.13
swingR0.430.420.040.050.3220ABI H0.420.420.040.040.5830
L0.420.420.050.04ABI L0.420.420.050.04
length (m)strideR0.500.500.060.090.3682ABI H0.500.500.070.090.8476
L0.500.500.060.09ABI L0.500.510.060.10
double strideR1.111.110.140.210.2685ABI H1.111.110.150.210.1959
L1.111.110.150.21ABI L1.111.110.140.21
* p < 0.05; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; p T/W test—p-value of t-test or Wilcoxon test; R—right side. L—left side; ABI H—the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI L—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
Table 7. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of knee extensor muscles according to the mode of analysis.
Table 7. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of knee extensor muscles according to the mode of analysis.
MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test
KNEE EXTENSION60 °/sPt (Nm)R96.3292.7034.5034.860.1131ABI H97.7591.8539.1038.090.0031 *
L92.8189.5543.6036.53ABI L91.3891.4041.9032.93
TW (J)R112.82108.8547.4042.410.2787ABI H115.13109.2546.3046.050.0168 *
L111.72108.6556.0044.55ABI L109.41104.4554.3040.58
aP (W)R54.5052.7023.0019.540.3943ABI H56.2152.2026.7023.210.0124 *
L54.4650.9528.1021.47ABI L52.7453.1527.6017.25
120 °/sPt (Nm)R69.7171.0027.5023.000.0142 *ABI H71.9470.0531.6027.710.0024 *
L66.4463.0538.4027.17ABI L64.1266.0034.5021.75
TW (J)R84.1379.7030.2029.450.1045ABI H87.3382.5040.7034.520.0097 *
L82.4880.1045.6034.06ABI L79.2079.5038.1028.33
aP (W)R68.6663.4035.5524.250.3652ABI H74.9468.1040.9033.180.0035 *
L70.6566.9041.6031.37ABI L65.8863.6037.1023.87
180 °/sPt (Nm)R54.5553.7533.7025.100.0802ABI H55.0848.7035.3026.500.0136 *
L51.1447.9034.1024.36ABI L50.6045.7036.7022.73
TW (J)R63.8159.5546.1032.970.4595ABI H65.3457.3044.9034.440.0565
L62.2355.9050.9033.43ABI L60.7057.6547.2031.75
aP (W)R67.9464.6557.7039.230.9302ABI H71.1560.6550.1043.440.0446 *
L67.9558.5554.4041.13ABI L64.7558.7055.6036.38
* p < 0.05; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; p T/W test—p-value of t-test or Wilcoxon test; Pt—peak torque; TW—total work; aP—average power; R—right side. L—left side; ABI H—the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI L—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
Table 8. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of knee joint flexor muscles according to the mode of analysis.
Table 8. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of knee joint flexor muscles according to the mode of analysis.
MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test
KNEE FLEXION60 °/sPt (Nm)R42.3942.6022.2016.830.7249ABI H44.0544.4522.2019.510.1251
L43.0242.4522.1019.85ABI L41.3741.5522.5017.12
TW (J)R49.5050.7029.8022.920.2913ABI H51.0649.4029.3025.870.7791
L51.3949.1032.0027.05ABI L49.8350.6532.9024.26
aP (W)R23.1524.4514.4011.040.4882ABI H23.2422.2514.9012.100.9971
L22.7921.9515.5012.21ABI L22.7024.0514.8011.16
120 °/sPt (Nm)R30.6730.8019.4013.950.4427ABI H31.3029.6519.3014.940.0413 *
L29.8027.3016.4015.20ABI L29.1628.0516.5014.16
TW (J)R34.9733.1025.2019.590.6587ABI H34.4433.3024.6017.890.2625
L33.1732.7023.9018.18ABI L33.7232.2024.5019.89
aP (W)R27.5926.2021.1016.810.3167ABI H26.8624.5019.6015.660.1608
L25.2422.4019.1015.59ABI L26.0023.8520.7016.82
180 °/sPt (Nm)R21.0019.0021.6013.120.8575ABI H21.6219.5521.7014.100.1478
L21.0520.3522.1015.17ABI L20.4319.3018.2014.23
TW (J)R21.1816.2526.7017.700.9469ABI H21.9517.1027.5018.670.1116
L21.2915.6029.1019.68ABI L19.5415.3025.6017.18
aP (W)R19.7612.6527.0018.190.9062ABI H21.9913.5531.4020.860.0223 *
L19.7312.2030.8019.85ABI L17.4712.1026.0016.67
* p < 0.05; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; p T/W test—p-value of t-test or Wilcoxon test; Pt—peak torque; TW—total work; aP—average power; R—right side. L—left side; ABI H–the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI L—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
Table 9. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of the extensor muscles of the ankle joint according to the method of analysis.
Table 9. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of the extensor muscles of the ankle joint according to the method of analysis.
MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test
ANKLE EXTENSION60 °/sPt (Nm)R31.7030.7017.0014.680.3173ABI H31.5331.0520.7515.450.1110
L29.9326.2025.7017.79ABI L30.6826.5023.6019.10
TW (J)R15.6915.4010.709.100.3972ABI H16.1716.2011.6010.130.1458
L15.9114.1014.1011.62ABI L15.1812.5012.2010.82
aP (W)R11.9913.108.906.140.5772ABI H12.3212.3010.307.780.1916
L12.2310.2513.059.41ABI L11.6111.009.807.85
120 °/sPt (Nm)R18.9617.7514.5010.150.2673ABI H18.3419.2016.0010.590.2242
L17.8416.1014.8011.49ABI L17.5414.5014.5011.58
TW (J)R8.207.257.955.380.7407ABI H9.108.909.606.760.0791
L8.827.9011.007.19ABI L7.525.857.806.04
aP (W)R8.687.308.506.460.9519ABI H9.178.509.606.780.1570
L8.937.1510.357.52ABI L8.006.108.707.32
180 °/sPt (Nm)R13.5612.308.708.390.4068ABI H14.2713.7010.408.900.2262
L14.0213.4510.508.99ABI L13.3112.559.108.46
TW (J)R5.624.504.904.740.5267ABI H6.245.007.104.990.0672
L6.075.458.004.87ABI L5.204.404.804.17
aP (W)R5.785.006.705.330.3440ABI H6.485.108.705.660.0790
L6.545.607.705.68ABI L4.784.606.453.55
* p < 0.05; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; p T/W test—p-value of t-test or Wilcoxon test; Pt—peak torque; TW—total work; aP—average power; R—right side. L—left side; ABI H—the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI L—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
Table 10. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of the flexor muscles of the ankle joint according to the method of analysis.
Table 10. Symmetry of force-velocity parameters of the flexor muscles of the ankle joint according to the method of analysis.
MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test MeanMedianSDIQRp T/W Test
ANKLE FLEXION60 °/sPt (Nm)R19.1418.407.706.010.0718ABI H19.4818.708.006.620.0092 *
L18.5017.7010.607.42ABI L18.1617.507.406.83
TW (J)R11.2010.105.505.860.1543ABI H11.5710.307.906.250.0074 *
L10.398.708.205.80ABI L10.008.706.705.27
aP (W)R9.248.554.653.750.4913ABI H10.228.654.205.030.0059 *
L9.248.404.905.17ABI L8.517.955.454.24
120 °/sPt (Nm)R12.2212.005.004.540.1130ABI H12.5412.205.005.350.0082 *
L11.9311.206.205.49ABI L11.3910.655.654.86
TW (J)R6.025.303.703.660.2293ABI H6.455.905.104.160.0133 *
L6.065.005.004.24ABI L5.524.804.703.73
aP (W)R7.806.356.255.510.6954ABI H8.146.907.105.530.0323 *
L7.395.955.955.50ABI L6.325.255.304.50
180 °/sPt (Nm)R11.059.904.505.410.5006ABI H11.2910.305.605.340.0520
L10.1610.006.505.82ABI L9.919.504.905.84
TW (J)R5.024.004.504.060.1781ABI H5.093.904.103.850.0595
L4.513.804.303.77ABI L4.223.603.403.64
aP (W)R5.454.306.604.800.8867ABI H6.464.806.605.400.0135 *
L5.594.805.004.97ABI L4.553.755.204.16
* p < 0.05; SD—standard deviation; IQR—interquarter range; p T/W test—p-value of t-test or Wilcoxon test; Pt—peak torque; TW—total work; aP—average power; R—right side. L—left side; ABI H—the limb where the higher ankle-brachial index was measured; ABI L—the limb where the lower ankle-brachial index was measured.
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Stefańska, M.; Bulińska, K.; Woźniewski, M.; Szuba, A.; Dziubek, W. Ankle-Brachial Index Is a Good Determinant of Lower Limb Muscular Strength but Not of the Gait Pattern in PAD Patients. Symmetry 2021, 13, 1709. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13091709

AMA Style

Stefańska M, Bulińska K, Woźniewski M, Szuba A, Dziubek W. Ankle-Brachial Index Is a Good Determinant of Lower Limb Muscular Strength but Not of the Gait Pattern in PAD Patients. Symmetry. 2021; 13(9):1709. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13091709

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Stefańska, Małgorzata, Katarzyna Bulińska, Marek Woźniewski, Andrzej Szuba, and Wioletta Dziubek. 2021. "Ankle-Brachial Index Is a Good Determinant of Lower Limb Muscular Strength but Not of the Gait Pattern in PAD Patients" Symmetry 13, no. 9: 1709. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13091709

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