The effect of the speed and range of motion of movement on the hyperemic response to passive leg movement.

Passive leg movement (PLM)-induced hyperemia is used to assess the function of the vascular endothelium. This study sought to determine the impact of movement speed and range of motion (ROM) on the hyperemic response to PLM and determine if the currently recommended protocol of moving the leg through a 90° ROM at 180°/sec provides a peak hyperemic response to PLM. 11 healthy adults underwent multiple bouts of PLM, in which either movement speed (60-240°/sec) or ROM (30-120° knee flexion) were varied.