Peripheral Artery Disease And Walking Exercise: New Study Guides Way To Improve Walking Ability
The study covered 264 people with PAD, with participants from four U.S medical centers. Designed to examine the effects of a home-based walking exercise program, participants were divided into three groups, one which didn’t walk for exercise, one which was to walk at a home at a comfortable pace, and one which was to walk at home until they experienced leg discomfort.
All participants were provided with an activity monitor to ensure compliance. At 6 months, participants in the study who exercised until it induced leg pain walked 11 feet/minutes faster than the group who exercised at a comfortable pace. At 12 months, the difference was 16 feet/minute.
Also, of note were the difference between the group who exercised at a comfortable pace versus those who didn’t exercise. For those who walked for exercise at a comfortable pace, there was not an improvement in walking speed at 6 or 12 months, compared to those who didn’t walk for exercise.
In summary, the recent study provides important insights on how to improve walking ability in patients with PAD through walking exercise. Healthcare providers should consider incorporating a structured exercise program into their PAD management program, and also encourage patients to maintain regular physical activity in their daily routine. By doing so, patients can experience significant improvements in their quality of life and reduce the risk of more serious complications.
