RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Exercise training for intermittent claudication: a narrative review and summary of guidelines for practitioners
JF BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
JO BMJ OPEN SP EX MED
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e000897
DO 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000897
VO 6
IS 1
A1 Amy E Harwood
A1 Sean Pymer
A1 Lee Ingle
A1 Patrick Doherty
A1 Ian C Chetter
A1 Belinda Parmenter
A1 Christopher D Askew
A1 Gary A Tew
YR 2020
UL http://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/6/1/e000897.abstract
AB Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused by atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries supplying the lower limbs often resulting in intermittent claudication, evident as pain or cramping while walking. Supervised exercise training elicits clinically meaningful benefits in walking ability and quality of life. Walking is the modality of exercise with the strongest evidence and is recommended in several national and international guidelines. Alternate forms of exercise such as upper- or lower-body cycling may be used, if required by certain patients, although there is less evidence for these types of programmes. The evidence for progressive resistance training is growing and patients can also engage in strength-based training alongside a walking programme. For those unable to attend a supervised class (strongest evidence), home-based or ‘self-facilitated’ exercise programmes are known to improve walking distance when compared to simple advice. All exercise programmes, independent of the mode of delivery, should be progressive and individually prescribed where possible, considering disease severity, comorbidities and initial exercise capacity. All patients should aim to accumulate at least 30 min of aerobic activity, at least three times a week, for at least 3 months, ideally in the form of walking exercise to near-maximal claudication pain.