The effect of exercise intensity on the response to exercise rehabilitation in patients with intermittent claudication.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this randomized trial was to compare the efficacy of a low-intensity exercise rehabilitation program vs a high-intensity program in changing physical function, peripheral circulation, and health-related quality of life in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients limited by intermittent claudication.

METHODS:

Thirty-one patients randomized to low-intensity exercise rehabilitation and 33 patients randomized to high-intensity exercise rehabilitation completed the study. The 6-month exercise rehabilitation programs consisted of intermittent treadmill walking to near maximal claudication pain 3 days per week at either 40% (low-intensity group) or 80% (high-intensity group) of maximal exercise capacity. Total work performed in the two training regimens was similar by having the patients in the low-intensity group exercise for a longer duration than patients in the high-intensity group. Measurements of physical function, peripheral circulation, and health-related quality of life were obtained on each patient before and after the rehabilitation programs.

RESULTS:

After the exercise rehabilitation programs, patients in the two groups had similar improvements in these measures. Initial claudication distance increased by 109% in the low-intensity group (P < .01) and by 109% in the high-intensity group (P < .01), and absolute claudication distance increased by 61% (P < 0.01) and 63% (P < .01) in the low-intensity and high-intensity groups, respectively. Furthermore, both exercise programs elicited improvements (P < .05) in peak oxygen uptake, ischemic window, and health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSION:

The efficacy of low-intensity exercise rehabilitation is similar to high-intensity rehabilitation in improving markers of functional independence in PAD patients limited by intermittent claudication, provided that a few additional minutes of walking is accomplished to elicit a similar volume of exercise.

• Authors: Andrew W Gardner, Polly S Montgomery, William R Flinn, Leslie I Katzel
• Journal: Journal of vascular surgery (J Vasc Surg) Vol. 42 Issue 4 Pg. 702-9 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0741-5214 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16242558 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Aged
• Exercise (physiology)
• Exercise Test
• Exercise Tolerance
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Intermittent Claudication (diagnosis, rehabilitation)
• Male
• Oxygen Consumption (physiology)
• Peripheral Vascular Diseases (diagnosis, rehabilitation)
• Physical Exertion
• Probability
• Quality of Life
• Regional Blood Flow
• Risk Assessment
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome