Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Injection users are at risk for vascular injuries resulting in chronic venous disease CVD. We examined walking mobility in relation to CVD for persons in methadone treatment. We used a cross-sectional, comparative design, stratified on age, sex, ethnicity, and drug use. CVD was present in The structural equation model supported the causal link between leg injection and CVD. The worse the mobility, the greater was the CVD classification -.
CVD had an indirect effect on mobility through pain. CVD and pain need to be considered when assessing mobility in illicit drug users. Keywords: Injection drug use, Chronic venous disease, Walking mobility, Leg pain. Among the many unintended consequences of injection drug use, problems with the legs due to injection-related venous disease have received little research attention.
Pathophysiologic changes occur to the venous system, as well as to the joints and muscles of the lower leg occur.
These venous changes are medically classified as chronic venous disease CVD. The clinical manifestations of venous disease include pain, making mobility difficult. Our current research investigates the relationship between walking mobility and injected-related chronic venous disease in methadone maintained adults. Walking mobility, which includes balance, gait, and walk speed, affects a person's performance of daily functioning.
Essential to maintenance of physical autonomy 4 , balance, gait and walk speed have been studied in the elderly 5 - 7 and are negatively impacted by chronic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus 8 and stroke 9. These dynamic activities of walking mobility are infrequently examined in illicit drug users. We therefore examined the bidirectional relationship between walking mobility and injection-related chronic venous disease for persons in methadone maintenance treatment.
