Effects of vacusac in intermittent claudication: a controlled cross-over study

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Physical Therapy
• Peripheral Artery Disease

Background:

• Intermittent claudication is a common symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• Limited effective non-invasive treatment options exist for improving walking capacity in PAD patients.
• Vacusac is a novel physical treatment modality for PAD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Vacusac treatment in patients with stable intermittent claudication.
• To assess the impact of Vacusac on pain-free and maximal walking distances.
• To compare active Vacusac treatment with a placebo control.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 22 patients (median age 65) diagnosed with stable intermittent claudication.
• Patients received either 25 active Vacusac treatments or 25 placebo treatments over 2 months.
• Outcomes measured included blood pressure, ankle pressure index, toe pressure index, and treadmill walking distances (pain-free and maximal).

Main Results:

• Active Vacusac treatment significantly increased pain-free walking distance (54m to 99m, P<0.05) and maximal walking distance (99m to 185m, P<0.05).
• The placebo group showed no significant changes in walking distances.
• Subsequent active treatment in the placebo group also led to significant improvements in walking distances.

Conclusions:

• Vacusac treatment significantly enhances walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication.
• The study demonstrates the effectiveness of Vacusac as a physical therapy intervention for PAD.
• Vacusac represents a potentially valuable, non-invasive therapeutic option for improving mobility in PAD patients.