Speed rather than distance: a novel graded treadmill test to assess claudication.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a new treadmill test, determining pain threshold speed (PTS) for use in assessment and measuring rehabilitation of patients with intermittent claudication.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with claudication were evaluated, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) was assessed. PTS was determined with a treadmill protocol based on level walking, low starting speed, and progressive increments at a predetermined distance up to the onset of pain. Repeatability and equivalence with a time-based protocol were verified. PTS was compared to pain-free walking distance, 6-minute walking distance, and ABI.


RESULTS
PTS was measured in all patients (3.6+/-1.1 km/h). Repeatability and equivalence between established tests were demonstrated. PTS showed a significant correlation with pain-free walking distance (r=0.833; P=0.0001), with 6-minute walking distance (r=0.724; P=0.005), and with ABI in the more ischemic limb (r=0.641; P=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
PTS is a reliable parameter that correlates well with other established measures. It is useful for determining the degree of functional handicap and for designing and guiding rehabilitation protocols.
The Center for Biomedical Studies Applied to Sport, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
F
F
Manfredini
F
F
Conconi
A M
AM
Malagoni
R
R
Manfredini
F
F
Mascoli
A
A
Liboni
P
P
Zamboni
D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D017288:Pain Threshold; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors