Total body recumbent stepping vs treadmill walking in supervised exercise therapy: A pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Treadmill walking is standard for supervised exercise therapy (SET) in peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• Alternative modalities may offer improved patient tolerance and comparable effectiveness.
• The "Stepper Study" investigated treadmill walking (TM) versus total body recumbent stepping (TBRS) in PAD SET.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of TBRS versus TM exercise in SET for PAD.
• To assess adherence, exercise dose, and adverse events between the two modalities.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind, randomized pilot study involving 19 PAD patients in a 12-week SET program.
• Participants were randomized to either TM (n=9) or TBRS (n=10) exercise groups.
• Feasibility, safety, and efficacy outcomes, including 6-minute walk distance, were assessed.

Main Results:

• SET attendance was higher in the TBRS group (86%) compared to the TM group (71%).
• TBRS achieved a higher session exercise dose (MET-minutes) than TM (144.7 vs 117.6).
• No significant differences in 6-minute walk distance improvement were observed between groups after baseline adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Total body recumbent stepping (TBRS) is a feasible and safe exercise modality for supervised exercise therapy in peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• This pilot study suggests preliminary efficacy for TBRS in SET programs, comparable to treadmill walking.
• Larger randomized studies are warranted to confirm these findings and establish TBRS as a viable alternative in PAD treatment.