[Results of the physiotherapy of arterial disease at the stage of intermittent claudication by programmed efforts training (author's transl)]

Abstract

The results of treatment of intermittent claudication by a physical training programmed during 30 to 45 days in a rehabilitation center, are assessed on 148 patients of whom 105 have followed a full program at first (32 cases) or after surgery (73 cases). Ankle pressures are not altered. Irrigraphy shows a significant increase of 10 to 14% of the proximal indexes. Walking distance is greatly increased. 13 patients had a walking distance of about 900 m at the beginning and 31 patients at the end of the course ("functional remission"). Out of 105 patients, 98 showed improvement, 4 remained unchanged and 3 slightly worsened. The appreciation of his own progress is a strong psychological stimulation for the patient, this helping him to accent his illness, and to fight the corrigible risk factors of atherosclerosis, all significantly reduced. The interpretation of the results is discussed and shows the importance of non-hemodynamic factors in the achieved progress. The programmed exercise training is one of the best non surgical symptomatic treatments of intermittent claudication.