Heat therapy vs. supervised exercise therapy for peripheral arterial disease: a 12-wk randomized, controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Therapeutic Modalities

Background:

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) involves lower limb atherosclerosis, causing claudication and poor exercise adherence.
• Exercise is a primary conservative treatment, but patient adherence is often limited by symptoms.
• Heat therapy shows promise for cardiovascular health, prompting investigation as an alternative for PAD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate heat therapy as a viable alternative cardiovascular therapy for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
• To compare the efficacy of heat therapy versus traditional exercise training on functional capacity and blood pressure in PAD patients.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week randomized controlled trial comparing heat therapy (spa bathing and callisthenics) with supervised exercise in PAD patients.
• Participants (n=22) were randomized into heat (n=11) or exercise (n=11) groups.
• Outcomes included changes in walking distance, pain-free walking distance, and blood pressure.

Main Results:

• Both heat therapy and exercise significantly increased total walking distance and pain-free walking distance.
• Systolic blood pressure decreased more with heat therapy (-7 mmHg) than exercise (-3 mmHg).
• Diastolic and mean arterial pressure decreased by 4 mmHg in both groups; no significant changes in vascular health markers were observed.

Conclusions:

• Heat therapy, involving hot-water immersion, effectively improved functional ability and resting blood pressure in PAD patients over 12 weeks.
• Adherence to heat therapy was excellent, and the intervention was well-tolerated.
• Heat therapy presents a promising, well-tolerated alternative for cardiovascular conditioning in individuals with PAD.