Vascular Testing

Why do I need noninvasive vascular testing?

Your lower extremities, especially your feet, are prone to poor blood flow just because of the effects of gravity. But because of the effects of aging or because of chronic diseases, like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, poor circulation worsens even further. 

This can lead to slow-healing wounds and ulcers that can threaten the health of your feet and increase your risk of amputation. For these reasons, your podiatrist could recommend noninvasive vascular testing, especially if you have:

• Abnormally cold feet or legs
• Frequent foot wounds
• Numbness or tingling 
• Leg weakness

Noninvasive vascular testing is also common if you have any foot or lower leg wounds that just won’t heal or that continue to come back. 

How does noninvasive vascular testing work?

Arizona Foot & Ankle Specialists provides in-house ankle-brachial index testing, as well as duplex ultrasound. Below are descriptions of how each type of noninvasive vascular test works.

Ankle-brachial index

With this type of vascular screening, your podiatrist places an inflatable pressure cuff on your arm and takes your blood pressure. They also perform the same test on one or both of your ankles. 

By comparing your blood pressure on your upper and lower extremities, your provider can determine how well your vascular system is functioning and find out if your legs are getting adequate blood flow. 

Duplex ultrasound

The duplex ultrasound is a noninvasive way to evaluate blood circulation through your veins and arteries all over your body. Your podiatrist places a clear gel on a targeted area and glides a hand-held transducer instrument over your skin.

This transducer sends live images to a monitor, so your provider can observe how well (or how poorly) your blood is flowing. 

When will I get my noninvasive vascular test results?

Because your dedicated podiatrist performs noninvasive vascular tests right in the office at Arizona Foot & Ankle Specialists, they can often let you know your results right away. 

Depending on the outcome of your noninvasive vascular test, your practitioner may talk with you about your diagnosis on the spot. They may also schedule you for a follow-up evaluation so they can spend quality time educating you about your diagnosis and treatment options.

Click on the online scheduling tool to book your noninvasive vascular testing exam at Arizona Foot & Ankle Specialists. You can also call the clinic directly to speak with a team member.