[Methods and results of physiotherapy in stage II arteriopathies (author's transl)]

Abstract

Physical training represents the oldest known treatment for arterial claudication. One can appreciate its results, during a stay in a rehabilitation center, by measuring the walking distance (WD) every week under standardized conditions. The results of the treatment are less good for proximal obliterations than for peripheral ones and for bilateral than for unilateral ones. To appreciate the intervention of hemodynamical factors, the comparison of WD after 4 to 6 weeks of training, and Doppler pressures at the ankle (AP) is performed. It only shows a WD-AP correlation on patients showing unilateral arteriopathies and who's pressures are comprised between 60 and 100 mmHg. The improvement of walking technic appear as an important factor of progress of WD. In our experience physical training is a sufficient and satisfactory treatment for 3/4 of claudicating patients.