Effects of long-term exercise rehabilitation on claudication distances in patients with peripheral arterial disease:...

To determine if improvements in physical function and peripheral circulation after 6 months of exercise rehabilitation could be sustained over a subsequent 12-month maintenance exercise program in older patients with intermittent claudication.

Seventeen patients randomized to exercise rehabilitation and 14 patients randomized to usual care control completed this 18-month study. Patients exercised three times per week during the first 6 months of a progressive exercise program, followed by two times per week during the final 12 months of a maintenance program. Patients were studied at baseline, 6 months, and 18 months during the study.

Eighteen months of exercise rehabilitation increased the initial claudication distance by 373 meters (189%) (P <.001), the absolute claudication distance by 358 meters (80%) (P <.001), walking economy by 11% (P <.001), 6-minute walk distance by 10% (P <.001), daily physical activity by 31%, and maximal calf blood flow by 18% (P <.001). These changes were similar to those found after 6 months of exercise rehabilitation (P = NS), and were significantly greater than the changes in the control group throughout the study (P <.05).

Improvements in claudication distances, walking economy, 6-minute walk distance, physical activity level, and peripheral circulation after 6 months of exercise rehabilitation are sustained for an additional 12 months in older patients with intermittent claudication using a less frequent exercise maintenance program.