In Search of Peripheral Artery Disease with the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
The Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) is a fast non-invasive test that measures for poor circulation or blocked arteries. ABI compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm. If the blood flow to the legs is restricted, it could be a sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD) or other vascular issues.
ABI is important for early detection of poor blood flow, both in emergency settings (trauma) and for chronic conditions. ABI aids Dr. Andersen in deciding the best course of action for managing circulation-related conditions.
The test is comfortable and quick and is performed using a blood pressure cuff and an automated device. The systolic pressure in both the arm and ankle is measured, and the ratio is calculated.
The patient lies down in a relaxed, quiet setting for accurate measurements.
PainLab provides the ABI in conjunction with several other important vascular scores in a 15-minute test.
More from PainLab
Our Blog
Neuro20 and the Evolution of Neuromodulation
Neuro20 and the Evolution of Neuromodulation For more than 50 years, EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) treatment has been studied and used to manage pain, restore strength, repair injury, and more, but the technology wasn’t developed enough to effect significant...
PBM and Wound Healing Studies
Wound Healing with Light Therapy For some patients wound healing can be slow or become chronic. Age, infections, or conditions like diabetes can interrupt the four stages of healing: clotting, inflammation, new tissue formation, and remodeling. Studies show that...
Identifying Circulation and Arterial Stiffness with PPG
Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a common non-invasive test that measures changes in blood volume, blood pumped with each heartbeat, how well blood vessels expand, heart rate variability (the time between heartbeats), blood flow changes, artery stiffness, oxygen levels,...