Article

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the complications of
atherosclerosis. Intermittent claudication is the second stage of PAD. In
controlled studies on patients with Stage II PAD, intensive rehabilitation
training has proved effective for improving the walking distance in this
population. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the effects
of treadmill interval training followed by active recovery
(low-intensity exercise). METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven patients with Stage II peripheral arterial
disease were included in a rehabilitation program (mean age 68.3+/-10.3 years)
for five days a week during two weeks including global exercises, exercises below
and above the level of injury. The interval training program consisted of
treadmill training for 30minutes twice a day (morning and evening) with a
progressively increased intensity: the first week speed was increased and the
second week slope was increased. Each session included five six-minute cycles.
Each cycle was made of three minutes of active workout followed by three minutes
of active recovery. RESULTS: All patients improved their walking distance, from a
mean of 610 m (120-1930) at the beginning of the program to a mean of 1252 m
(320-2870) at the end (P=0.003). All patients were very motivated by the
rehabilitation training program No adverse event was reported. CONCLUSION: This study showed that an interval training program with active recovery was effective
and safe for patients with Stage II peripheral arterial disease,
the patients'
motivation was high. This study must now be validated by a clinical trial.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS