A modified activity protocol for claudication.

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Supervised exercise therapy (SET) is standard for peripheral artery disease (PAD) but has limitations.
• Wearable step trackers offer a potential alternative for improving walking in claudicators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a FitBit® step tracker in improving walking distance for veterans with lower extremity claudication.
• To assess patient perception of symptom changes and walking capacity.

Main Methods:

• Prospective six-month study involving 49 veterans with claudication.
• Participants used FitBit® devices to track daily steps; monthly clinic visits monitored progress.
• Outcomes included monthly walked distance, steps/day, and patient-reported symptom/walking changes.

Main Results:

• Mean daily steps increased significantly from 3492 in month 1 to 4502 by month 5 (P=0.0007).
• 43% of patients did not use the tracker for the full study duration.
• Symptom bother, younger age, higher BMI, greater activity, and diabetes were associated with tracker use.

Conclusions:

• Monitored step tracking with FitBit® shows potential for improving walking distance in veterans with claudication, especially those with mild symptoms.
• Further research is needed to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from this approach.