Exercise ABI (Ex ABI)

An exercise ankle brachial index (Ex. ABI) is a blood pressure test used to measure the blood pressure in the legs. It is used to diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD) and other vascular problems. The ABI is calculated by dividing the blood pressure in the ankle by the blood pressure in the arm. This is done while resting and then immediately after exercise (usually heel raises or walking on a treadmill). A reduction in the blood pressure of the ABI following exercise is suggestive of PAD.

This test usually takes 30 minutes to complete.

An Exercise Ankle Brachial Index Pressure Study (ABI) assesses the ratio between the blood pressure in your arm compared to the arteries in your feet at rest, and then again after some light exercise. A hand held doppler with a pencil probe will be used for this study. We will require you to remove your shoes and socks, as well as your jumper. We will ask you to lie down on the examination bed. We will place a blood pressure cuff around your lower calf and apply gel to the top of your foot and under your ankle. We will use the hand-held Doppler to find the arteries and then inflate/deflate the blood pressure cuff to determine the blood pressure. We will repeat this process on your arm as well. We will then ask you do do some light exercise, usually in the form of heel raises either for as long as you can or until time is up; whichever comes first. We will then ask you to lie back down on the examination bed and repeat the blood pressure tests of your arm and ankles.

An Ex ABI is a useful tool to determine whether pain you experience on walking (claudication) is due to poor blood flow to your legs or if it may be caused by something completely different. This is particularly useful in situations where the pain you experience on walking is consistent with claudication, however there is good blood flow to your feet at rest, however there is a significant reduction in flow while you are walking resulting in the pain.