Effect of resistance of the exercise band on the peak femoral vein velocity during active ankle flexion

Objective To examine the resistance effect of using an exercise band on the lower extremity venous velocity during active ankle flexion. Methods Twenty healthy young adult men performed active ankle flexion every 2 s either with no band or with two exercise bands, marked red and silver in the order of increasing tension. They held the band in its natural length with an elbow in extension and an ankle in maximal dorsiflexion at initiation of each active plantar flexion in each posture. The peak velocity in the right superficial femoral vein was measured in each condition. Results Holm's multiple comparisons revealed significant increases in the mean (individual 95% confidence intervals) peak velocities (cm/s) with no, red, and silver bands (35.8 (28.9-42.7), 46.5 (38.8-54.3), and 56.9 (47.0-66.8), respectively, in the sitting posture, and 50.7 (39.2-62.3), 60.7 (46.8-74.6), and 69.0 (55.3-82.7), respectively, in the supine posture; all p < 0.01). Conclusion Resistance with the exercise bands efficiently enhanced the femoral venous velocity during active ankle plantar flexion.