The optimal positioning for viewing the veins of the lower extremity is:

• Patient in supine position with the head slightly elevated for comfort
• Reverse Trendelenburg position with the leg being examined, externally rotated.
• Lateral decubitus or prone position may be utilized to visualize the popliteal, peroneal, proximal posterior tibial, small saphenous and soleal veins
• To aid in normalizing abnormal common femoral vein signals, positioning the patient slightly to the side opposite the examination side may assist with normalizing the Doppler waveform signal