title: The role of kinesitherapy and electrotherapeutic procedures in non-operative management of patients with intermittent claudications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of physical therapy (kinesitherapy and electrotherapeutic procedures) on the course of peripheral arterial occlusive disease by monitoring the changes in values of claudication distance and ankle-brachial indexes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized study included 47 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease manifested by intermittent claudications associated with ankle-brachial indexes values ranging from 0.5 to 0.9. Patients from the first group (25 pts) were treated with medicamentous therapy, walking exercises beyond the pain threshold, dynamic low-burden kinesi exercises and electrotherapeutic ageneses (interference therapy, diadynamic therapy, and electromagnetic field), while the second group of patients (22 pts) was treated with "conventional" non-operative treatment - medicamentous therapy and walking exercises. The values of newly established absolute claudication distance and ankle-brachial indexes were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant increase of absolute claudication distance in both groups of patients was registered, independently of therapeutic protocol applied (p < 0.001), as well as the increase in the claudication distance interval in the physical therapy group. There was no significant increase in ankle-brachial indexes values in both groups of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methods of physical therapy presented valuable supplement in non-operative treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease patients, improving their functional ability and thus postponing surgical treatment. However, further investigations including larger number of patients are needed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia drmiroslav@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Miroslav D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Marković
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hospital Centre "Bežanijska Kosa", Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Danica M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Marković
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marko V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Dragaš
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Igor B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Končar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Igor L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Banzić
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Mihailo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ille
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Lazar B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Davidović
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D055771:Serbia; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents
keywords: Kinesitherapy; electrotherapy; intermittent claudiactions