Effect of supervised exercise on physical function and balance in patients with intermittent claudication

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Intermittent claudication (IC) significantly impacts patient mobility and quality of life.
• Standard supervised exercise programmes (SEP) are a cornerstone of IC management.
• The specific effects of SEP on functional performance, particularly balance, require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a standard supervised exercise programme (SEP) for intermittent claudication (IC).
• To assess the impact of SEP on specific measures of functional performance, including walking distance and balance.
• To determine changes in quality of life following SEP in IC patients.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 51 patients with symptomatic intermittent claudication (Rutherford grades 1-3).
• Comprehensive assessments included treadmill walking distance, ankle-brachial index, 6-min walk test, Timed Up and Go, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), computerized dynamic posturography (Sensory Organization Test - SOT), and quality of life questionnaires (VascuQoL, SF-36).
• Measurements were taken at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-SEP.

Main Results:

• SEP significantly improved initial treadmill walking distance (P=0.001) and 6-min maximum walking distance (P=0.006).
• Significant improvements were observed in Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores (P<0.001) and quality of life domains (P=0.025 for bodily pain, P=0.039 for social domain).
• Balance, as measured by the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), showed significant improvement (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Supervised exercise programmes are effective in improving physical function in patients with intermittent claudication.
• SEP demonstrably enhances balance capabilities in individuals with IC.
• These findings support the integration of SEP to improve both mobility and stability in IC management.