Effects of exercise training on calf tissue oxygenation in men with intermittent claudication.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of exercise training on calf tissue oxygenation in men with peripheral arterial disease and intermittent calf claudication.


METHODS
This pilot study was prospective and longitudinal and used a one-group, pretest-posttest design.


METHODS
Tertiary care medical center for veterans.


METHODS
Fifteen male veterans (mean age 69 years) with Fontaine stage IIa peripheral arterial disease and classic intermittent claudication.


METHODS
Before and after intervention, participants performed graded treadmill exercise tests while medial calf tissue oxygenation (StO(2), % oxyhemoglobin saturation) was monitored continuously with near-infrared spectroscopy.


METHODS
The intervention consisted of a 3-month exercise training program involving 3 sessions per week at the clinic (treadmill walking, calf ergometry) and 2 sessions per week at home (free walking, standing heel raises).


RESULTS
After completion of the intervention, participants significantly increased their maximal treadmill exercise time from 7.19 to 11.27 minutes. Mean exercise StO(2) decreased from 29% to 19% saturation, StO(2) x time area increased from 421% * min to 730% * min StO(2) nadir, and StO(2) recovery time did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
After the exercise intervention, the improved treadmill walking performance was accompanied by greater calf tissue deoxygenation during exercise. Given the continued presence of ischemia, this finding may represent increased capillarization and diffusion-based enhancement of arteriovenous O(2) extraction.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. sfigoni@gmail.com
Stephen F
SF
Figoni
Charles F
CF
Kunkel
A M Erika
AM
Scremin
Arash
A
Asher
Norman L
NL
Banks
Anthony
A
Rivera
John K
JK
Tin
Babak
B
Cohen
D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
D010100:Oxygen