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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Jul-Aug;32(4):210-8.
doi: 10.1097/HCR.0b013e31825828f4.

Comparison of walking with poles and traditional walking for peripheral arterial disease rehabilitation

Eileen G Collins  1 , Susan Oʼconnell, Conor McBurney, Christine Jelinek, Jolene Butler, Domenic Reda, Ben S Gerber, Christopher Hurt, Mark Grabiner
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Comparison of walking with poles and traditional walking for peripheral arterial disease rehabilitation

Eileen G Collins et al. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2012 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 24-week walking with poles rehabilitation program with a traditional 24-week walking program on physical function in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: Patients with PAD (n = 103, age = 69.7 ± 8.9 years, ankle-brachial index < 0.90 or evidence of calcified vessels) were randomized into a rehabilitation program of traditional walking (n = 52) or walking with poles (n = 51). Patients exercised 3 times per week for 24 weeks. Exercise endurance was measured by time walked on a constant work rate treadmill test at 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Perceived physical function was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 and Walking Impairment Questionnaire. Tissue oxygenation was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Results: Patients assigned to the traditional walking group walked longer at 24 weeks than those assigned to the pole walking group (21.10 ± 17.07 minutes and 15.02 ± 12.32 minutes, respectively, P = .037). There were no differences between the groups in tissue oxygenation. However, there was a significant lengthening of time for which it took to reach minimum tissue oxygenation values (P < .001) within the groups on the constant work rate test. There were no differences between the groups in perceived physical function as measured by the Physical Function subscale on the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 or perceived walking distance as measured by the Walking Distance subscale on the Walking Impairment Scale.

Conclusions: Traditional walking was superior to walking with poles in increasing walking endurance on a constant work rate treadmill test for patients with PAD.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort Flow Diagram for study. Abbreviations: CAD, coronary arterial disease; PAD, peripheral arterial disease; PV, peripheral vascular
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 2a. Exercise duration for all subjects (intent to treat, n=97). Figure 2b. Exercise duration for all subjects (those who completed the protocol only, n=77)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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