The effects of peripheral vascular disease on gait

This study was designed to determine whether patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) have gait abnormalities. A previous study on humans with PVD found no abnormalities whereas significant gait changes were seen with a rat model of PVD. The study population was comprised of 10 controls and 9 subjects with PVD (all male). The PVD group had documented pain in one or both legs while walking. Subjects ranged in age from 55-92 years of age, with a mean age of 69 in the PVD group and 70 in the control group. The GaitMat II system was used to measure both spatial and temporal variables of gait. Subjects walked across the mat, four to six times, at their comfortable walking speed. The PVD group then walked on a treadmill until they experienced moderate claudication pain and felt they had to stop (pain levels between 6 and 8, with maximal pain at level 10). Control group walked on a treadmill for 10 minutes without pain. All subjects repeated the gait tests on the GaitMat H system immediately after treadmill walking. Claudication pain persisted in the PVD group during the second gait test. The PVD group was not different than control group in any of the measured variables on the first test (p values from .35 to .99). Difference scores (post- minus pre-treadmill walking)for PVD group were significantly different than those for control group on 8 of 11 variables (p values <.005). The primary response in PVD subjects was reduced walking speed (1.02+/-0.16 to 0.94+/-0.16 m/s) and reduced step length (0.60+/-0.08 to 0.57+/-0.09 m/s), whereas control subjects increased their speed (1.09+/-0.17 to 1.19+/-0.19 m/s) and step length (0.63+/-0.10 to 0.67+/-0.10 m/s). No asymmetries in gait were measured in either group, either before or after treadmill walking. In conclusion, PVD subjects were not different in gait while rested, but responded to claudication pain by reducing preferred walking speed and step size.