The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of age and the effect of exercise intensity of rehabilitation programs on claudication pain symptoms and leg circulation of younger and older patients with intermittent claudication.
Thirty-one patients randomized to low-intensity exercise rehabilitation and 33 patients randomized to high-intensity exercise rehabilitation completed the study. The 6-month exercise rehabilitation programs consisted of intermittent treadmill walking to near maximal claudication pain three days per week at either 40% (low-intensity group) or 80% (high-intensity group) of maximal exercise capacity. Total work performed in the two training regimens was similar by having the patients in the low-intensity group exercise for a longer duration than patients in the high-intensity group. Measurements of physical function, peripheral circulation, and health-related quality of life were obtained on each patient before and after the rehabilitation programs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
64
Intermittent treadmill walking to near maximal claudication pain three days per week
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Change in the walking distance to onset of leg pain, and the change in walking distance to maximal leg pain.
Time frame: 6 months
Changes in cardiopulmonary function, calf muscle circulation, and health-related quality of life.
Time frame: 6 months
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