• Haynes MJ

• Blood Flow Velocity
• Ulnar Artery / diagnostic imaging
• Ultrasonography, Doppler

OBJECTIVE: To determine what effect wrist extension has on ulnar artery blood flow.

DESIGN AND SETTING: This is a descriptive study performed at a private chiropractic clinic.

SUBJECT SELECTION: Sixty-three ulnar arteries were examined from thirty-two volunteers, 15 men and 17 women, whose ages ranged from 21-75 yr. Only wrists that were asymptomatic and freely mobile were candidates for ulnar artery examination. INTERVENTION: The arteries were insonated approximately 2 cm proximal to the pisiform bone using a continuous-wave Doppler flow meter in the neutral position and during passive wrist extension to the limit with the fingers straightened.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The persistence or loss of Doppler signals.

RESULTS: Doppler signals from 83% (0.99 confidence interval: 68% < p < 93%) of arteries stopped. In 4% of vessels, the signals were markedly reduced; in 13%, they remained apparently unchanged.

CONCLUSION: Blood flow in ulnar arteries can be severely restricted during wrist extension. By using Doppler ultrasound, the ulnar artery may provide a good model of local joint movement effects on arterial blood flow.

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Article only available in print.