[Contribution of the maximal exercise test to diagnosis the vascular origin of leg pain in athletes]

J Med Vasc. 2018 Dec;43(6):379-383. doi: 10.1016/j.jdmv.2018.10.001. Epub 2018 Nov 14.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Leg pain is a common debilitating symptom in athletes. Vascular disease is not often proposed as a possible cause. Maximal exercise with measure of the ankle-brachial index after exercise can be an interesting diagnostic test. We report an illustrative case where an athlete presented leg pain revealing arterial disease disclosed by exercise. Interestingly, sub-maximal exercise did not cause pain, causing a delay in diagnosis. The vascular origin of leg pain can be detected with a maximal exercise test that induces the symptomatic pain or at least clinical discomfort.

Keywords: Ankle-brachial index; Arterial disease; Artériopathie; Index de pression systolique; Maximal exercise test; Épreuve d’effort maximale.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ankle Brachial Index*
  • Athletes*
  • Bicycling
  • Exercise Test*
  • Humans
  • Iliac Artery* / diagnostic imaging
  • Iliac Artery* / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Pain / diagnosis*
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pain Measurement*
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / complications
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / diagnosis*
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color