Home-training of patients with intermittent claudication

Fifteen patients with intermittent claudication but without angina pectoris underwent a training programme consisting of three months of home-training followed by three months of supervised in-hospital training. Detailed information and instruction preceded the start of the training. There was a significant increase in maximal walking distance and also in physical activity during the home-training period. There was no difference in the increase in walking distance between this group and an earlier, comparable, group that had undergone a similar period of supervised in-hospital training. A further significant increase in maximal walking distance was obtained after three months of supervised in-hospital training. The physical activity during leisure time was, however, not further increased. Smoking habits were affected. After one year, one out of twelve smokers had stopped smoking and eight had reduced their consumption by 30-75%. Home-training after a careful instruction and with control of results is an alternative to supervised in-hospital training for a large group of patients with intermittent claudication but without angina pectoris.