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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
Published on: December 11, 2013
Intermittent claudication: exercise-increased walking distance is not related to improved cardiopulmonary fitness
P W K Ng1, S J Hollingsworth, H Luery
1Department of Surgery, The Royal Free and University College Medical School, The Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, London W1T 3AA, UK.
Objectives:
To assess if exercise training improves the symptoms of intermittent claudication by improvement in cardiopulmonary fitness.
Methods:
Claudication distance (CD), maximum walking distance (MWD), calf endurance (repetitive heel raises), cardiovascular fitness (VO2 peak), and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) were measured in 16 subjects with intermittent claudication before, and following an 8-week treadmill training programme.
Results:
Training resulted in a median increase in CD of 65.5 m (p<0.01), MWD of 339.5 m (p<0.001) and HR of 19 (p<0.03). Notably, improvements in MWD correlated with those in HR (p=0.001; R=0.75). There was no training-associated change in VO2 peak (median increase of only 0.35 ml/kg/min; p=0.60) or ABPI (median increase of only 0.01; p=0.64).
Conclusion:
In this study, overall improvement in claudication was not related to an improvement in cardiopulmonary fitness.
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