摘要
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects 12% - 20% of the population over 65 years. PAD is a component of systemic atherosclerosis and is associated with increased rate of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events, compared with those without PAD. The strongest risk factors for PAD are older age and cigarette smoking. PAD accelerates functional decline leading to physical disability. Many randomized clinical trials demonstrated that treadmill walking training increases pain-free and maximal walking distances in patients with PAD. Exercise intervention is strongly recommended for patients with PAD and symptoms of intermittent claudication (IC). The need to provide an exercise training program to patients with peripheral arterial disease is essential, as almost half of these patients will eventually develop coronary artery disease. There are many existing treadmill walking protocols for patients with PAD. Most of these are based on claudication severity. We present a case of significant improvement of pain-free distance and maximum treadmill walking distance in a patient with PAD after 12 weeks of walking training program utilizing the “2/3 claudication distance” formula.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects 12% - 20% of the population over 65 years. PAD is a component of systemic atherosclerosis and is associated with increased rate of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events, compared with those without PAD. The strongest risk factors for PAD are older age and cigarette smoking. PAD accelerates functional decline leading to physical disability. Many randomized clinical trials demonstrated that treadmill walking training increases pain-free and maximal walking distances in patients with PAD. Exercise intervention is strongly recommended for patients with PAD and symptoms of intermittent claudication (IC). The need to provide an exercise training program to patients with peripheral arterial disease is essential, as almost half of these patients will eventually develop coronary artery disease. There are many existing treadmill walking protocols for patients with PAD. Most of these are based on claudication severity. We present a case of significant improvement of pain-free distance and maximum treadmill walking distance in a patient with PAD after 12 weeks of walking training program utilizing the “2/3 claudication distance” formula.
