Home-based Circuit Training and Community Walking for Intermittent Claudication

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Exercise Science
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Supervised exercise training is recommended for peripheral artery disease (PAD) but is underutilized.
• Home-based exercise programs (HBEPs) offer a potential alternative for PAD management.
• This study assessed the feasibility of a 12-week HBEP for symptomatic PAD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a full-scale trial for a 12-week home-based exercise program (HBEP) in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients.
• To assess recruitment, adherence, and tolerability of the HBEP.
• To determine the feasibility of collecting clinical outcome data.

Main Methods:

• A randomized feasibility trial comparing HBEP to a non-exercise control group.
• HBEP included personalized step goals and twice-weekly resistance circuits, monitored with a Fitbit.
• Feasibility assessed by eligibility, recruitment, attrition, adherence, and tolerability; acceptability via interviews.

Main Results:

• 133 of 188 screened patients were eligible (70.7%); 30 were recruited (22.6%) with minimal attrition (3.33%).
• Adherence to step goals averaged 53.5%; 58.6% of circuits were completed at desired intensity.
• Six adverse events occurred; no significant differences in exploratory outcomes, though trends suggested improvements in walking speed and distance.

Conclusions:

• The home-based exercise program (HBEP) demonstrated feasibility and good tolerability in PAD patients.
• Successful recruitment and minimal attrition support the WALKSTRONG program's suitability.
• Walking was preferred over circuit exercises, indicating potential for adherence in those avoiding supervised settings.