Reduced calf muscle pump function (CPF) is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and CPF. Patients referred to the Gonda Vascular Laboratory for noninvasive venous studies were identified and consented. Patients underwent standard venous air plethysmography protocol. CPF (ejection fraction) was measured in each lower extremity of ambulatory patients by comparing refill volume after ankle flexes and passive refill volumes. The cutoff for reduced CPF (rCPF) was defined as an ejection fraction of <45%. Maximum HGS bilaterally was obtained (three trials per hand) using a dynamometer. HGS and CPF were compared (right hand to calf, left hand to calf) and the correlation between the measures was evaluated. 115 patients (mean age, 59.2 ± 17.4 years; 67 females, mean body mass index, 30.83 ± 6.46) were consented and assessed for HGS and CPF. rCPF was observed in 53 right legs (46%) and 67 left legs (58%). CPF was reduced bilaterally in 45 (39%) and unilaterally in 30 (26%) patients. HGS was reduced bilaterally in 74 (64.3%), unilaterally in 23 (20%), and normal in 18 (15.7%) patients. Comparing each hand/calf pair, no significant correlations were seen between HGS and CPF. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficients test yielded values of 0.16 for the right side and 0.10 for the left side. There is no significant correlation between HGS and CPF, demonstrating that HGS measurements are not an acceptable surrogate for rCPF, indicating different pathophysiological mechanisms for each process.

中文翻译：

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小腿肌肉泵功能下降不能通过握力测量来解释

小腿肌肉泵功能（CPF）降低是静脉血栓栓塞和死亡的独立危险因素。我们的目的是评估握力 (HGS) 和 CPF 之间的关系。转诊至 Gonda 血管实验室进行无创静脉研究的患者均已确定并同意。患者接受标准静脉空气体积描记法方案。通过比较踝关节弯曲后的再填充量和被动再填充量，测量了门诊患者每只下肢的 CPF（射血分数）。减少 CPF (rCPF) 的截止值定义为射血分数 <45%。使用测力计获得双侧最大 HGS（每只手进行三次试验）。比较 HGS 和 CPF（右手与小腿，左手与小腿）并评估测量值之间的相关性。 115 名患者（平均年龄，59.2 ± 17.4 岁；67 名女性，平均体重指数，30.83 ± 6.46）同意并进行 HGS 和 CPF 评估。在 53 条右腿 (46%) 和 67 条左腿 (58%) 中观察到 rCPF。 45 名 (39%) 患者双侧 CPF 减少，30 名 (26%) 患者单侧 CPF 减少。 74 例 (64.3%) 患者双侧 HGS 降低，23 例 (20%) 患者单侧 HGS 降低，18 例 (15.7%) 患者 HGS 正常。比较每对手/小腿，HGS 和 CPF 之间没有发现显着相关性。 Spearman 等级相关系数检验得出的右侧值为 0.16，左侧值为 0.10。 HGS 和 CPF 之间没有显着相关性，这表明 HGS 测量值不能作为 rCPF 的可接受替代值，表明每个过程有不同的病理生理机制。