Abstract
Arm cranking is a useful alternative exercise modality for improving walking performance in patients with intermittent claudication; however, the mechanisms of such an improvement are poorly understood. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of arm-crank exercise training on lower-limb O2 delivery in patients with intermittent claudication. A total of 57 patients with intermittent claudication (age, 70±8 years; mean±S.D.) were randomized to an arm-crank exercise group or a non-exercise control group. The exercise group trained twice weekly for 12 weeks. At baseline and 12 weeks, patients completed incremental tests to maximum exercise tolerance on both an arm-crank ergometer and a treadmill. Respiratory variables were measured breath-by-breath to determine peak V̇O2 (O2 uptake) and ventilatory threshold. Near-IR spectroscopy was used in the treadmill test to determine changes in calf muscle StO2 (tissue O2 saturation). Patients also completed a square-wave treadmill-walking protocol to determine V̇O2 kinetics. A total of 51 patients completed the study. In the exercise group, higher maximum walking distances (from 496±250 to 661±324 m) and peak V̇O2 values (from 17.2±2.7 to 18.2±3.4 ml·kg−1 of body mass·min−1) were recorded in the incremental treadmill test (P<0.05). After training, there was also an increase in time to minimum StO2 (from 268±305 s to 410±366 s), a speeding of V̇O2 kinetics (from 44.7±10.4 to 41.3±14.4 s) and an increase in submaximal StO2 during treadmill walking (P<0.05). There were no significant changes in the control group. The results suggest that the improvement in walking performance after arm-crank exercise training in patients with intermittent claudication is attributable, at least in part, to improved lower-limb O2 delivery.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 405-413 |
Journal | Clinical Science |
Volume | 117 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2009 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Limb-specific and cross-transfer effects of arm-crank exercise training in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Impacts
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NICE Clinical Guideline on the diagnosis and management of lower-limb peripheral arterial disease
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Impact: Health and welfare, Practitioners and professional services
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Development of supervised exercise programmes in the NHS for people with intermittent claudication
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Impact: Health and welfare, Practitioners and professional services