A doppler ultrasound is a hand held device, allowing the podiatrist to assess and determine how much blood supply is getting down to the feet. This is imperative for people with diabetes and a test we undertake on many new nail and skin care patients at Well Heeled Podiatry.
The arteries are the vessels which takes blood away from the heart to supply blood to the feet. This is important for healing of wounds and injuries, and for nail, skin and hair growth. Changes in arterial flow will lead to changes in the feet, such as paler skin, slow to heal cuts and prolonged injuries.
What Does A Doppler Ultrasound Assessment Involve?
At Well Heeled Podiatry we assess for blood flow using a hand held doppler ultrasound. There are two major arteries that supply blood to the feet. These are the posterior tibial artery and the dorsalis pedis artery.
Gel is applied over these arteries and a doppler probe is moved through the gel using high frequency sound waves to assess arterial flow. This assessment is commonly performed during a diabetes and neurovascular assessments. Based on what we hear, we can determine how much blood is going through an artery and whether there is any circulation compromise.
Arteries are elastic and will stretch and relax to allow the blood to flow through the vessel and reach its destination. We should ideally hear beats grouped in 2 or 3’s as the blood recoils in the artery. A doppler ultrasound, helps as a diagnostic tool for arterial health.
Why Is It Important to Have a Doppler Ultrasound on Your Feet?
While using a doppler ultrasound we can detect any heart rhythm irregularity, such as an extra or missed beat. If the artery becomes harder over time from cholesterol, diabetic changes or blockages, we will hear more of a whooshing sound, through the artery.
If the podiatrist is concerned we will perform an ankle brachial index test, which will compare the health of the artery in your arm to the artery in the feet.
This will all be recorded during the assessment and discussed with the patient. A report will be sent to the treating doctor or specialist for further investigation if necessary.
If you have diabetes, high cholesterol, blood pressure, or vascular compromise we recommend booking a doppler assessment at Well Heeled Podiatry.
