Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effect of a novel supervised exercise therapy (SET) program based on intermittent treadmill walking and circuit-based moderate-intensity functional training (MIFT) on walking performance and HRQoL in PAD patients.
Design: All participants underwent a 12-week SET that involved 15 to 30 minutes of treadmill walking followed by a 15-minute moderate-intensity functional training (MIFT) continued by 12-week of follow-up. Maximum walking distance (MWD), pain-free walking distance (PFWD), gait speed and estimated peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) were calculated through the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) and HRQoL through the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire-6 (VascuQol-6).
Results: There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between baseline and post-intervention for walking performance outcomes [MWD (MD: 88.53 m), PFWD (MD: 62.89 m), gait speed (MD: 0.24 m·s-1) and peak VO2 (MD: 2.04 ml·kg-1·min-1)] and for HRQoL [physical functioning in SF-36 (MD: 6.93 points) and VascuQol-6 (MD: 1.46 points)]; while no differences were found between baseline and 12-week follow-up.
Conclusion: Results seem to show that 12-week of novel SET based on intermittent walking and MIFT induced significant clinical improvements in key functional variables of PAD while cessation of exercise leads to significant negative clinical changes in subsequent weeks of follow-up.
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