{"id":679425,"date":"2025-07-10T21:55:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-one-minute-scan-of-your-foot-could-help-prevent-amputation-heres-how\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T21:55:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:55:19","slug":"a-one-minute-scan-of-your-foot-could-help-prevent-amputation-heres-how","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-one-minute-scan-of-your-foot-could-help-prevent-amputation-heres-how\/","title":{"rendered":"A one minute scan of your foot could help prevent amputation: Here&#8217;s how"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3c809b9069c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3c809b9069c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-one-minute-scan-of-your-foot-could-help-prevent-amputation-heres-how\/#PAD_testing\" >PAD testing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-one-minute-scan-of-your-foot-could-help-prevent-amputation-heres-how\/#A_one-minute_scan_a_nearly_perfect_match\" >A one-minute scan, a nearly perfect match<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-one-minute-scan-of-your-foot-could-help-prevent-amputation-heres-how\/#Why_early_detection_matters\" >Why early detection matters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2024\/foot.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/foot.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2024\/foot.jpg\" alt=\"foot\" title=\"Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Imagine having blocked arteries in your legs and not knowing it. At first, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/peripheral-arterial-disease-pad\/\" target=\"_blank\">there may be no symptoms at all<\/a>. Just occasional fatigue, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bhf.org.uk\/informationsupport\/heart-matters-magazine\/medical\/peripheral-arterial-disease\" target=\"_blank\">cramping or discomfort<\/a>\u2014symptoms easy to dismiss as aging or being out of shape.<\/p>\n<p>But as blood flow worsens, a small cut on your foot might not heal. It can <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/legsmatter.org\/information-and-support\/types-of-ulcers\/arterial-leg-ulcers\/\" target=\"_blank\">turn into an ulcer<\/a>. In the worst cases, it <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/five-ways-to-save-your-legs-by-a-vascular-surgery-specialist-246312\" target=\"_blank\">can lead to amputation<\/a>. This condition is called <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/peripheral-artery-disease-the-biggest-killer-youve-probably-never-heard-of-246266\" target=\"_blank\">peripheral artery disease<\/a> (PAD)\u2014and it&#8217;s far more common than many realize.<\/p>\n<p>PAD affects around <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vasgbi.com\/quality-improvements\/peripheral-arterial-disease-pad\/\" target=\"_blank\">one in five people<\/a> over the age of 60 in the UK, and is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cks.nice.org.uk\/topics\/peripheral-arterial-disease\/background-information\/risk-factors\/\" target=\"_blank\">especially prevalent<\/a> in people with diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0149291823003843\" target=\"_blank\">PAD is rarely an isolated issue<\/a>: it&#8217;s usually a sign of widespread <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/atherosclerosis\/\" target=\"_blank\">atherosclerosis<\/a>, the build-up of fatty deposits that can also narrow arteries in the heart and brain.<\/p>\n<p>It also <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK557482\/\" target=\"_blank\">significantly increases the risk<\/a> of heart attacks, strokes and other conditions linked to poor blood flow to vital organs. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/linkinghub.elsevier.com\/retrieve\/pii\/S1078588418300558\" target=\"_blank\">Research shows<\/a> that a large proportion of people diagnosed with PAD will die <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1078588414006947\" target=\"_blank\">within five to ten years<\/a>, most often due to these complications.<\/p>\n<p>Early detection is key to reducing the impact of PAD, and I&#8217;ve been working with colleagues <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.crossref.org\/pendingpub\/pendingpub.html?doi=10.1093%2Fehjimp%2Fqyaf057\" target=\"_blank\">to develop a faster, simpler way to diagnose it<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PAD_testing\"><\/span>PAD testing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Doctors can check circulation in the feet by comparing blood pressure in the toe with that in the arm. The result is known as the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3385338\/\" target=\"_blank\">toe\u2013brachial index (TBI)<\/a>. The trouble is that the test needs a toe-sized cuff, an optical sensor and a doctor who knows how to use the equipment.<\/p>\n<p>Many GP surgeries and foot clinics <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s13098-024-01291-2#:~:text=The%20only%20drawback%20with%20TBI,39%2C40%2C41%5D.\" target=\"_blank\">don&#8217;t have this kit<\/a>. And in many people, especially those with diabetes or stiff arteries, the test doesn&#8217;t always give a clear or reliable result.<\/p>\n<p>Our research team asked a simple question: could we turn a routine ultrasound scan into a quick, reliable way to measure blood flow in the foot?<\/p>\n<p>Most hospitals, and many community clinics, already have handheld ultrasound probes, which use Doppler sound to track how blood flows through vessels.<\/p>\n<p>This works through the Doppler effect: as blood moves, it changes the pitch of the sound waves. Healthy blood flow creates a strong, steady &#8220;swoosh&#8221;, while a narrowed or blocked artery produces a faint or disrupted sound. Doctors are trained to hear the difference and use these sound patterns to spot circulation problems, especially in conditions like PAD.<\/p>\n<p>But my research team wondered whether a computer could do more than listen: we wanted to know whether it could convert the shape of that Doppler &#8220;wave&#8221; into a number that mirrors the TBI.<\/p>\n<p>To investigate, we scanned the feet of patients already being treated for PAD\u2014150 feet in all. For each artery, we used Doppler ultrasound to measure how quickly blood surged with each heartbeat, a pattern known as the acceleration index. We then compared these results to the standard toe\u2013brachial index, the traditional test that measures blood pressure in the toe.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_one-minute_scan_a_nearly_perfect_match\"><\/span>A one-minute scan, a nearly perfect match<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The acceleration index alone was able to predict the standard toe\u2013brachial index with 88% accuracy. Using a simple formula, we converted that Doppler reading into an &#8220;estimated TBI&#8221;\u2014a number that closely mirrored the conventional result. It needed no toe cuff, no optical sensor and it took under a minute to perform.<\/p>\n<p>Even more encouraging, estimated TBI rose in tandem with traditional TBI results after treatment. When <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/tests-and-treatments\/coronary-angioplasty\/\" target=\"_blank\">patients underwent angioplasty<\/a>\u2014a procedure to reopen blocked arteries\u2014their estimated TBI increased almost identically to the measured TBI. That means this scan doesn&#8217;t just help diagnose PAD; it could also be used to track recovery over time.<\/p>\n<p>Crucially, our <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach works with equipment that&#8217;s already widely available. We repeated the experiment using a basic pocket Doppler: the kind many GPs and podiatrists have tucked in a drawer.<\/p>\n<p>While it wasn&#8217;t quite as precise as hospital-grade ultrasound, the results were still strong. With some additional software refinement, doctors could soon assess foot circulation quickly and accurately using tools they already own, without adding time to a busy clinic schedule.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_early_detection_matters\"><\/span>Why early detection matters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/health-topics\/peripheral-artery-disease\/about-peripheral-artery-disease-pad\" target=\"_blank\">early diagnosis of PAD<\/a> changes everything. It can mean the difference between losing a foot, keeping your mobility and living longer with a better quality of life. It can shorten hospital stays and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n<p>But right now, too many people with PAD aren&#8217;t diagnosed until they already have <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cks.nice.org.uk\/topics\/peripheral-arterial-disease\/management\/chronic-limb-threatening-ischaemia\" target=\"_blank\">chronic limb-threatening ischaemia<\/a>\u2014the most severe form of the disease. This condition occurs when blood flow to the legs or feet becomes critically low, depriving tissues of oxygen. It can cause constant foot pain (especially at night), wounds that won&#8217;t heal and, in advanced cases, tissue death (gangrene) and the risk of amputation. Without urgent treatment to restore circulation, chronic limb-threatening ischaemia can be life-threatening.<\/p>\n<p>Part of the problem is that the tools used to diagnose PAD are often slow, expensive or too complicated for routine use. That&#8217;s why a simple, cuff-free Doppler scan that provides a reliable estimate of toe\u2013brachial index is so promising. It uses equipment that many clinics already have, takes less than a minute and delivers im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>te results\u2014offering a faster, easier way to spot poor circulation before serious damage is done.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re now looking at ways to automate the measurement so that it can be used even by non-specialists. We&#8217;re testing it in various clinics with different patient groups and exploring its performance over time. But the evidence so far suggests that this could become a key part of vascular care\u2014not just in hospitals, but in GP surgeries, diabetes clinics and anywhere else early intervention could save a limb.<\/p>\n<p>Blocked arteries don&#8217;t need to stay hidden. With the right tools, we can find them earlier, treat them faster and protect people from the devastating consequences of late diagnosis.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Conversation<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/medx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                This article is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/a-one-minute-scan-of-your-foot-could-help-prevent-amputation-heres-how-260847\" target=\"_blank\">original article<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/260847\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/>\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                 <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                 A one minute scan of your foot could help prevent amputation: Here&#8217;s how (2025, July 10)<br \/>\n                                                 retrieved 10 July 2025<br \/>\n                                                 from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-07-minute-scan-foot-amputation.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-07-minute-scan-foot-amputation.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain Imagine having blocked arteries in your legs and not knowing it. At first, there may be no symptoms at all. Just occasional fatigue, cramping or discomfort\u2014symptoms easy to dismiss as aging or being out of shape. But as blood flow worsens, a small cut on your foot might not heal. It&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":679426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/foot.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-679425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=679425"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679425\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/679426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=679425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=679425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=679425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}