Evaluation of 6- and 12-month supervised exercise training on strength and endurance parameters in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
BACKGROUND
The classic symptom of peripheral arterial disease is the intermittent claudication (IC). Generally, endurance training is recommended to improve patients' walking performance. A potential benefit of the combination with strength training and the optimal duration of such an exercise program remain unclear.


RESULTS
We evaluated the effects of a supervised exercise program combining endurance and strength training lasting 6 or 12 months in patients with IC. A total of 94 patients joined this study; 42 completed the 6-month training program (group A), whereas 52 patients completed the 12-month protocol (group B). Both groups exhibited a significant increase in all parameters evaluated, but greater benefit was found in the 12-month training group. The absolute claudication distance increased similarly by 27.5 and 29.5 %, respectively, in both groups (not significant); however, group B exhibited a greater increase in walking speed (12.1 vs. 5.3 %, p < 0.001). All strength parameters increased significantly in both the groups showing an increase for "pushing" by 90.0 % (group A) and 90.2 % (group B), for "pulling" by 64.2 % (group A) and 75.3 % (group B), and for "tiptoe standing" by 70.5 % (group A) and 113.7 % (group B; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that a combined exercise program significantly increases walking speed, absolute claudication distance, and muscle strength parameters. A greater benefit seems to result from a 12-month training program.
Department of Hospital Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Magdalena
M
Pilz
Elisabeth
E
Kandioler-Honetz
Alfa
A
Wenkstetten-Holub
Waltraud
W
Doerrscheidt
Rudolf
R
Mueller
Robert Wolfgang
RW
Kurz
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods; D010807:Physical Endurance; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking