Effects of a long term exercise program on lower limb mobility, physiological responses, walking performance and physical activity levels in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Crowther, Robert G.;Spinks, Warwick L.;Leicht, Anthony S.;Sangla, Kunwarjit;Quigley, Frank;Golledge, Jonathan
Abstract

Objective: the purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a 12-month exercise program on lower limb mobility (temporal-spatial gait parameters and gait kinematics), walking performance, peak physiological responses, and physical activity levels in individuals with symptoms of intermittent claudication due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD-IC). Methods: participants (n = 21) with an appropriate history of PAD-IC, ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) <0.9 in at least one leg and a positive Edinburgh claudication questionnaire response were prospectively recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to either a control PAD-IC group (CPAD-IC) (n = 11) that received standard medical therapy and a treatment PAD-IC group (TPAD-IC) (n = 10), which also took part in a 12-month supervised exercise program. A further group of participants (n = 11) free of PAD (ABI >0.9) and who were non-regular exercisers were recruited from the community to act as age and mass matched controls (CON). Lower limb mobility was determined via two-dimensional video motion analysis. A graded treadmill test was used to assess walking performance and peak physiological responses to exercise. Physical activity levels were measured via a 7-day pedometer recording. Differences between groups were analyzed via repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: the 12-month supervised exercise program had no significant effect on lower limb mobility, peak physiological responses, or physical activity levels in TPAD-IC compared with CPAD-IC participants. However, the TPAD-IC participants demonstrated significantly greater walking performance (171% improvement in pain free walking time and 120% improvement in maximal walking time compared with baseline). Conclusion: the results of this study confirm that a 12-month supervised exercise program will result in improved walking performance, but does not have an impact on lower limb mobility, peak physiological responses, or physical activity levels of PAD-IC patients.

Journal

Journal of Vascular Surgery

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N/A

Volume

47

ISBN/ISSN

1097-6809

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Issue

2

Pages Count

7

Location

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Publisher

Mosby

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Publisher Location

St Louis, USA -MO

Publish Date

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Url

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Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1016/j.jvs.2007.10.038