In claudication patients , SE is more effective than UE at improving maximal walking and claudication distances , yet there is no difference in general quality of life or patient-reported community-based walking .
BACKGROUND Supervised exercise ( SE ) is widely accepted as an effective therapy for intermittent claudication ( IC ) , but its use is limited by cost .
Unsupervised exercise ( UE ) represents a less costly alternative .
We assessed the comparative effectiveness of SE vs UE in patients with IC .
High-intensity progressive resistance training improves flat-ground walking in older adults with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of whole-body progressive resistance training ( PRT ) as a treatment for the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) in older adults . DESIGN R and omized controlled pilot trial . SETTING University clinical weight training facility in Sydney , Australia . PARTICIPANTS Twenty-two older adults with symptomatic PAD . INTERVENTIONS The efficacy of supervised whole-body high-intensity PRT ( H-PRT ) with low-intensity nonprogressive resistance training ( L-RT ) and a usual care control group that performed unsupervised walking for 6 months was compared . MEASUREMENTS Pilot outcome measures included 6-minute walk ( 6 MW ) outcomes , body composition , dynamic muscle strength and endurance , and performance-based tests of function . RESULTS Mean age was 71.1 ± 7.2 . Mean ankle brachial index was 0.55 ± 0.13 .  Exercise adherence was similar in all groups ( P = .29 ) . H-PRT ( n = 8) improved total 6MW distance ( mean difference ( MD ) 62.6 ± 58.0 m , P = .02 ) significantly more than L-RT ( n = 7 ; MD=-48.2 ± 67.6 m ) and controls ( n = 7 ; MD=-9.9 ± 52.9 m ) . Change in 6MW onset of claudication was significantly and independently related to change in bilateral calf endurance ( correlation coefficient ( r ) = 0.65 , P = .03 ) , and change in 6MW distance was significantly and independently related to change in bilateral hip extensor endurance ( r = 0.71 , P = .02 ) in all groups . CONCLUSION H-PRT  significantly improved 6MW ability in older adults with intermittent claudication from PAD , whereas L-RT and unsupervised walking did not . Improvement in walking ability was significantly related to improvements in bilateral calf and hip extensor endurance , supporting further investigations targeted at musculoskeletal impairment in this cohort
In claudication patients , SE is more effective than UE at improving maximal walking and claudication distances , yet there is no difference in general quality of life or patient-reported community-based walking .
BACKGROUND Supervised exercise ( SE ) is widely accepted as an effective therapy for intermittent claudication ( IC ) , but its use is limited by cost .
Unsupervised exercise ( UE ) represents a less costly alternative .
We assessed the comparative effectiveness of SE vs UE in patients with IC .