Quote:
Originally Posted by suresh
why the swelling is more foot than any other part after injury?
want to know pathophysiology.
difficulty to keep elevated!
most patients worry for swelling more than pain.
suresh
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Suresh:
The main reason that foot/ankle swelling is more of a problem than in any other part of the body is because of the physics concept of
hydrostatic pressure. The hydrostatic pressure of a fluid column is increased as the density of the fluid is increased and height of the fluid column in increased. Since the foot and ankle are generally at the lowest level below the heart of any part of the body, then the blood vessels of the foot and ankle are subjected to the highest pressures since they have the highest fluid column above them. Higher pressures mean
higher filtration rate from the capillaries into the interstitial tissues. Because the dorsal foot has high soft tissue compliance, compared to the plantar foot, where there is low tissue compliance, swelling will naturally occur more on the dorsal foot than on the plantar foot.
How do you reduce foot edema?
1. Raise your feet above your heart to reduce fluid column above foot.
2. Wear support hose to increase the external pressure and interstitial tissue pressure so that the pressure gradient from capillary to interstial tissue is reduced so that filtration rate is also reduced.
Hope this helps.
__________________
Sincerely,
Kevin
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Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College
e-mail:
kevinakirby@comcast.net
Private Practice:
107 Scripps Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95825 USA
My location
Voice: (916) 925-8111 Fax: (916) 925-8136
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Cause of foot swelling
Linear Mode
