A comparative study of upper body strength training exercise vs. treadmill walking on patients with intermittent claudication

Objective: Intermittent claudication is one of the symptoms of painful Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) in which walk ing was conventionally used treatment, though forcing patients with PAD to walk with increasing pain is challenging. The purpose of the study was to compare the effect of upper body strength training exercise vs. treadmill walking on intermittent claudication through which an alternative, effective and pain free protocol could be implemented in the clinical settings. Methods: In this study fifty four patients were enrolled in two groups through convenience sampling. Data were collected for 18 patients in Group A (upper body strength training) and 16 in group B (treadmill walking) for analysis. Independent t test was used for inter group comparison and ANOVA for intra group comparison of Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), Pain Free Walking Distance (PFWD), Maximum Walking Distance (MWD), Heart Rate (HR) and Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) (p< 0.05). Results: Comparison of both groups for PFWD, HR and WIQ were shown significant difference during post and follow up values while no apparent changes were noted in MWD and ABI. p values for pre-post and pre-follow up phases for all outcome measures except ABI were <0.05 indicated statistical significance. Conclusions: Upper body strength training and treadmill walking both forms of exercise appears to be an effective for improving PFWD, HR and WIQ in intermittent claudication. However, upper body strength training is the primary choice in patients unable to complete treadmill walking training.