Clinical Effectiveness of a Supervised Exercise Therapy Program for Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease: A Translational Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a supervised exercise therapy (SET) program for peripheral artery disease (PAD), specifically focusing on walking modalities that did not use a treadmill.
Results Summary
The SET program significantly improved walking capacity (6-min walk test) across most groups, with no significant differences between the different walking modalities. Physical function measures did not show significant between-group changes for treadmill walking, total body recumbent stepping, or their combination.
Population
White adults (55% female, mean age 73.7) with mild-moderate PAD in rural Midwest cardiac rehabilitation settings.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (exercise program prescribed by an exercise physiologist or nurse based on SET guidelines).
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
supervised exercise therapy (SET) program | increase | 6-min walk test | participants with mild-moderate PAD enrolled in a 12-wk SET program | 32.1 ± 6.6 m | significantly improved | #1 |
supervised exercise therapy (SET) program | increase | clinical effectiveness | participants with mild-moderate PAD enrolled in a 12-wk SET program | - | demonstrates the clinical effectiveness | #2 |
supervised exercise therapy (SET) program | increase | non-treadmill walking modalities | participants with mild-moderate PAD enrolled in a 12-wk SET program | - | potential utilization | #3 |
treadmill walking group | no change | physical function measures | participants with mild-moderate PAD enrolled in a 12-wk SET program | - | no significant between-group changes | #4 |
total body recumbent stepping (TBRS) group | no change | physical function measures | participants with mild-moderate PAD enrolled in a 12-wk SET program | - | no significant between-group changes | #5 |
treadmill walking + total body recumbent stepping (TBRS) group | no change | physical function measures | participants with mild-moderate PAD enrolled in a 12-wk SET program | - | no significant between-group changes | #6 |
multimodal group | no change | 6-min walk test | participants with mild-moderate PAD enrolled in a 12-wk SET program | - | no significant within-group changes | #7 |
PURPOSE: National guidelines for the treatment and management of symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) recommend supervised exercise therapy (SET) as a first line of therapy. However, it is unknown how these expert opinion-based SET guidelines work in clinical practice as SET programs become established following the 2017 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services coverage announcement. The purpose of this prospective, nonrandomized translational study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a SET program and specifically walking exercise modalities that did not incorporate a treadmill (TM). METHODS: Participants enrolled in a 12-wk SET program housed in four rural Midwest cardiac rehabilitation settings and were prescribed an exercise program by an exercise physiologist or nurse based on current SET guidelines. Groups included TM walking, total body recumbent stepping (TBRS), TM walking + TBRS, and multimodal. Pre- and post-tests of walking capacity, physical function, and quality of life were administered. RESULTS: The sample (n = 93) was all White, with 55% female representation, age of 73.7 ± 9.0 yr, and mild-moderate PAD (ankle-brachial index = 0.71 ± 0.19). Collectively, SET significantly improved the 6-min walk test (32.1 ± 6.6 m; P < .01). Within-group changes in the 6-min walk test were seen for all groups except the multimodal group; there were no significant between-group differences in change scores ( P = .30). No significant between-group changes were seen for the TM walking, TBRS, and TM walking + TBRS groups for physical function measures. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the clinical effectiveness of SET programs following current guidelines and potential utilization of non-TM walking modalities in SET programs.