Sonographic Demonstration of a Gastrocnemius Fascial Defect: A Rare Cause of Calf Pain / Demostración sonográfica de un defecto fascial del gastrocnemio: una causa rara del dolor de pantorrilla

ABSTRACT Fascial defects with muscular herniation are an uncommon, treatable cause of calf pain. Differential diagnosis includes deep vein thrombosis, compartment syndrome, soleus strain/tear, and muscle or subcutaneous tumour. In this case, sonography was more sensitive for diagnosis than magnetic resonance imaging.

RESUMEN Los defectos fasciales con herniación muscular son una causa poco frecuente y tratable del dolor de pantorrilla. El diagnóstico diferencial incluye trombosis venosa profunda, síndrome compartimental, distensión o desgarro del sóleo, y tumor subcutáneo o muscular. En este caso, la sonografía resultó más sensible para el diagnóstico que la tomografía por resonancia magnética.

Prevalence of calf muscle cramps and influencing factors for pregnant women in China during 2010-2012 / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the prevalence of calf muscle cramps and possible influencing factors for pregnant women in China.@*Methods@#Using a multi-stage stratified probability proportional to size cluster randomization sampling method during 2010-2012. A total of 3 582 pregnant women were investigated at 150 counties from 31 provinces in China mainland. Information on calf muscle cramps, demographic socio-economic status, pregnancy information, and the physical activities was collected through questionnaires. The semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect food intake of pregnant women. Dynamic cluster analysis was used to assess dietary pattern. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the possible influencing factors for calf muscle cramps.@*Results@#The prevalence of calf muscle cramps was 32.9% (1 180/3 582) in Chinese pregnant women, which was 11.6% (87/748), 28.2% (420/1 492), and 50.2% (673/1 342), respectively, during the first, second and third trimester. There were significant differences between them (χ2=349.16, P<0.001). Dietary patterns of the pregnant women were classified into three groups, which called relatively balanced pattern, high vegetables and fruits pattern, and high dairy pattern. Among the three groups, the prevalence of calf muscle cramps was 32.0% (952/2 971), 37.2% (186/500), and 37.8% (42/111), with significant differences (χ2=6.39, P=0.041). The OR (95%CI) values of calf muscle cramps in the second and third trimester was 2.96 (2.28-3.83), and 8.02 (6.16-10.44), respectively, comparing with the first trimester. The OR (95%CI) values of calf muscle cramps in the women taking calcium before pregnant was 1.45 (1.19-1.76), comparing with the one who was not taken. The OR (95%CI) values of calf muscle cramps in the women who had been diagnosed by pregnancy-induced hypertension was 5.76 (2.06-16.12), comparing with the one who had not been diagnosed. The OR (95%CI) values of calf muscle cramps in the high vegetables and fruits pattern and high dairy pattern was 1.13 (0.91-1.41), and 1.18 (0.76-1.81), respectively, comparing with the relatively balanced pattern.@*Conclusion@#The prevalence of calf muscle cramps was relatively high in Chinese pregnant women, which was significantly different among three trimesters. The residential areas, occupation, and pregnancy-induced hypertension might be related to the prevalence of calf muscle cramps. However, there was no significant difference among different dietary patterns.

Avaliação do volume de fluxo venoso da bomba sural por ultra-sonografia Doppler durante cinesioterapia ativa e passiva: um estudo piloto / Evaluation of venous flow volume of the calf muscle pump by Doppler ultrasound during active and passive kinesiotherapy: a pilot study

CONTEXTO: O fisioterapeuta na unidade hospitalar atua sobre os efeitos da hipoatividade ou inatividade do paciente acamado. Na prática diária, a contração do músculo da panturrilha é difundida entre os profissionais de saúde no ambiente hospitalar, principalmente nos períodos de pré e pós-operatório, como forma de diminuir a estase venosa e os riscos de trombose venosa profunda nos membros inferiores. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o volume de fluxo venoso na bomba sural, através de ultra-sonografia doppler, durante cinesioterapia ativa e passiva (flexão plantar do tornozelo). MÉTODOS: A amostra foi constituída por 30 indivíduos escolhidos aleatoriamente e submetidos a ultra-sonografia doppler da veia poplítea direita, visando mensurar o volume de fluxo sanguíneo em quatro momentos: repouso, compressão manual da panturrilha, movimentação passiva e ativa do tornozelo em flexão plantar. Na análise dos resultados, utilizou-se o teste t, sendo utilizado um valor de p < 0,05 como índice de significância estatística. RESULTADOS: Na amostra constituída, 16 eram do sexo feminino e 14 do sexo masculino, apresentando as seguintes médias: idade (31,57 anos), altura (1,68 m), peso (68,25 kg) e índice de massa corporal (24,16). Na análise estatística, a flexão plantar do tornozelo realizada de forma passiva, quando comparada ao valor basal, é significante (p < 0,000056) em relação à ativação da bomba sural, embora não tanto quanto o exercício ativo (p < 0,0000016). Também mostrou significância a compressão manual do músculo tríceps sural em relação ao exercício passivo (p < 0,000000081). CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo, a flexão plantar do tornozelo de forma ativa mostrou-se estatisticamente mais eficaz do que a passiva na ativação da bomba sural, aumentando o volume do fluxo de sangue na veia poplítea e diminuindo a estase venosa nos membros inferiores.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital physical therapists work on the effects of hypoactivity or inactivity of bedridden patients. In daily practice, contraction of the calf muscle is commonly performed by health professionals in hospitals, especially in pre- and post-operative periods as a form of reducing venous stasis and risk of deep venous thrombosis in the lower limbs. OBJECTIVE: To assess venous flow volume at the calf muscle pump using color Doppler ultrasound during active and passive kinesiotherapy (ankle plantar flexion). METHODS: The sample consisted of 30 individuals randomly selected and submitted to color Doppler ultrasound of the right popliteal vein, aiming to measure blood flow volume in four periods: rest, manual calf compression, active and passive ankle movement in plantar flexion. The t test was used for statistical analysis, and p < 0.05 was used as an index of statistical significance. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 16 females and 14 males. Means were as follows: age (31.57 years), height (1.68 m), weight (68.25 kg), and body mass index (24.16). Statistical analysis showed that passive ankle plantar flexion was significant when compared to baseline (p < 0.000056) as to calf pump muscle activation, although not as much as active exercise (p < 0.0000016). Manual compression of the triceps surae muscle in relation to passive exercise was also significant (p < 0.000000081). CONCLUSION: In this study, active ankle plantar flexion proved statistically more effective than passive exercise in calf muscle pump activation, increasing blood flow volume in the popliteal vein and minimizing venous stasis in the lower limbs.

Comparing the Effect of Two Doses of Botulinum Toxin A (Dysport(R)) for Treatment of Calf Muscle in Spastic Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effective and safe dose of Dysport(R) (one of the commercial botulinum toxins) for relieving the spasticity of calf muscle in cerebral palsy. METHOD: Twenty spastic cerebral palsy children (34 limbs) were randomly assigned to a high dose (HD; 16 Unit/kg/limb) injection group and low dose (LD; 8 Unit/kg/limb) injection group. Locomotor rating scale (LRS) and para meters of 3 dimensional gait analysis including ankle dorsiflexion angle at stance phase (MADA), maximal dynamic gastrocnemius (MDGL) and soleus length (MDSL) were assessed before, 4 weeks after, and 12 weeks after injection. RESULTS: Mean LRS, MADAs, MDGLs and MDSLs were significantly increased both 4 and 12 weeks after injection in HD group. In LD group, LRS, MADAs, MDGLs and MDSLs showed some improvement but they were statistically insignificant. The high dose had no adverse effect except the mild and transient weakness, which was tolerable to the cerebral palsy patients. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated the high dose injection of Dysport was more effective than the low dose injection to relieve the spasticity of calf muscle in cerebral palsy.

A Case of Solitary Metastasis of Renal Cell Carcinoma to Left Calf Muscle / 대한비뇨기과학회지

A patient is described who was presented with a little finger tip sized palpable nodular mass on left calf muscle for 2 years of duration. The pathologic result of the biopsy specimen for nodular mass showed a clear cell carcinoma. The full metastatic work up demonstrated tumor in the right kidney, with no other detectable primary focus. Result of the radical nephrectomy exhibited renal cell carcinoma confined within renal parenchyme. The patient was treated with IFN-alpha-2b as adjuvant therapy and now is on close observation without the evidence of tumor recurrence.

Synovial Sarcoma in the Calf Muscle Fascia: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Synovial sarcoma is an uncommon, highly malignant soft tissue tumor usually arising from the synovial lining of a joint, bursa and tendon sheath. Occurence in muscle fascia is extremely rare. We present a case of synovial sarcoma of the left calf muscle fascia, which was confirmed by microscopically sarcomatous growth of spindle cells and irregular small multiloculation. Above knee amputation was done.