The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of passive calf muscle stretching in patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The main question it aims to answer are: 1. To determine if daily calf muscle stretching at home improves calf muscle and vascular health. 2. To determine if daily calf muscle stretching at home improves walking performance. Participants will use inflatable ankle splints for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 4-weeks on both days and 4-weeks of no stretching.
Patients with peripheral artery disease will passively stretch their calf muscles using a stretch device on both feet for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks. Blood vessel health and size, length and function of the calf muscles and tendons and walking performance will be measured. Joint and foot movements as well as calf muscle oxygen levels will be measured during walking performance tests.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
24
Modified night splints will be used to passive stretch the calf muscle.
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITING6-minute walk test distance
Submaximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance
Time frame: 6-12 minutes
Muscle to tendon ratio
The ratio of gastrocnemius muscle fascicle length to Achilles' tendon length will be measured using ultrasound
Time frame: 45 minutes
Endothelial function
Popliteal flow-mediated dilation will be measured as a index of macrovascular endothelial function in the leg.
Time frame: 30 minutes
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