In a non-randomized, open-label study results after a structured institution-based peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) rehabilitation program were compared with the results of training at home. Three groups were compared: group 1 (n = 19) PAD rehabilitation; group 2 (n = 19) PAD rehabilitation + clopidogrel 75 mg once daily; group 3 (n = 21) home-based training. The training period was 3 months for all groups, which was followed by a 3-month observation phase (without prescribed training). The rehabilitation program consisted of 3 training hours per week. Background variables, demographics, and baseline claudication distances were comparable between groups. After 3 months of training the absolute claudication distances (ACD) improved by 82.7%, 131.4%, and 5.4% for groups 1, 2 and 3. The initial claudication distances (ICD) changed by 163.8%, 200.6%, and 44.4%, respectively. All changes, except the ACD result for group 3, were statistically significant (p < or = 0.05). Structured training groups (1 and 2) performed significantly better than group 3 (p < or = 0.05). When results from groups 1 and 2 were pooled, ACDs changed from 493.3 +/- 218.1 to 1026.0 +/- 468.9 m, delta 546.0 +/- 378.8 m [95% CI 417.8-674.2 ml; p < or = 0.05. ICDs improved from 175.3 +/- 110.8 m to 493.1 +/- 326.7 m, delta 320.8 +/- 315.9 m [95% CI 213.9-427.7 m]; p < or = 0.05. The difference between the pooled mean results of the structured training groups and the results of group 3 amounted to 474.3 m [95% CI 270.2-678.4 m] and 242.4 m [95% CI 99.0-385.7 m], for ACD and ICD, respectively. Structured, supervised PAD rehabilitation is a highly efficacious treatment for intermittent claudication and may be regarded as the present gold standard among conservative treatment options.