Time-course evolution of functional performance during a 3-month supervised exercise training program in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease

Abstract

Introduction: Functional performance is impaired in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The effects of a supervised exercise training (SET) program on functional performance have yet to be clearly determined. The aim was to investigate the time-course evolution of functional performance during a 3-month SET program. Methods: Patients with chronic symptomatic PAD participating in a 3-month SET program were investigated. Six-minute walking distance (6MWD), the stair climbing test (SCT), and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were assessed before SET, after the first and second months of SET, and following the SET program. The ankle– and toe–brachial indices were measured before and after the SET program. Results: Ninety patients with PAD (age 65.4 ± 10.2 years) were analyzed. The 6MWD significantly improved after the first (+7%, p ⩽ 0.001) and second months (+13%, p ⩽ 0.001) and following SET (+14%, p ⩽ 0.001) compared to before the SET program. The 6MWD significantly improved after the 2nd month (+6%, p ⩽ 0.001) and following SET (+7%, p ⩽ 0.001) compared to after the first month of the SET program. The SPPB score and SCT performance significantly improved after the first (SPPB score: +9%, p ⩽ 0.001; SCT: +17%, p ⩽ 0.001) and second months (SPPB score: +11%, p ⩽ 0.001; SCT: +24%, p ⩽ 0.001) and following SET (SPPB score: +12%, p ⩽ 0.001; SCT: +25%, p ⩽ 0.001) compared to before the SET program. No significant differences were observed following SET compared to the second month of the SET program. Vascular parameters did not change significantly. Conclusions: A 3-month SET program improves several components of functional performance, and adaptations mainly occur during the 1st and 2nd months of the SET program.

The PAD-adapted 30-20-10 during Nordic walking: A new exercise training session in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease

“…Patients with symptomatic chronic atherosclerotic PAD were recruited from the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Switzerland. As described elsewhere, [ 28 – 30 ] all the participants were enrolled in the Angiofit study (prospective observational cohort study) and took part in a 3-month SET program (see Supplementary STROBE Checklist, http://links.lww.com/MD/M920 ). All patients underwent cardiac screening to exclude contraindications to exercise.…”

“…At the beginning of the training program, all patients received instructions on the proper use of the poles. [ 30 ] Each patient participated to the 3 different exercise sessions which were randomly assigned by a computer-generated random list. The order of the sessions was as follows: 1st session: 4 patients performed TW, 3 patients performed 4 × 4 minutes, 4 patients performed PAD-adapted 30-20-10; 2nd session: 4 patients performed TW, 4 patients performed 4 × 4 minutes, 3 patients performed PAD-adapted 30-20-10; 3rd session: 3 patients performed TW, 4 patients performed 4 × 4 minutes, 4 patients performed PAD-adapted 30-20-10.…”

Short-duration aerobic high-intensity intervals versus moderate exercise training intensity in patients with peripheral artery disease: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (the Angiof-HIIT Study)

“…69 The tests will be performed as previously described. 68 Unipedal stance test Patients will be asked to hold the unipedal stance position for a maximum of 60 s on both legs. 68 30 and 60 s repeated sit-to-stand chair test Patients will be asked to stand up from a chair to a fully extended standing position as many times as possible within 30 and 60 s with their arms folded across their chest.…”