In previous studies of exercise training in
patients with PAD, treadmill testing was most often
performed at a constant work load, and the endpoints
were changes in peak walking time and the
time that claudication pain first occurred. Using
these evaluation techniques, several studies have
shown that the improvement in treadmill walking
time ranged from 50%16 to almost 200%10 without
providing direct evidence of an associated increase in
peak exercise performance. In our study, treated
subjects had a 123% increase in treadmill walking
time on a graded treadmill protocol and a 30%
increase in peak Vo2. Associated with the improvement
in peak exercise performance, treated subjects
experienced the onset and degree of claudication
pain severity at a later time during exercise. These
changes in claudication pain severity and peak exercise
performance may allow patients to perform a
greater range of leisure and work-time activities. For
example, treated patients also reported an improved
ability to walk longer distances at faster walking
speeds, suggesting that these benefits may extend to
an increase in community-based functional ability.