To Cure 'This Disease', Walk Until Your Legs Hurt (Study)
In patients with peripheral arterial disease, walking exercise until the leg hurts improves walking ability.
Peripheral arterial disease is a disease mainly caused by narrowing or blockage of arteries in the legs. When there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it builds up on the walls of blood vessels, forming plaque, and blood does not flow properly. The sensation in the feet becomes dull, and when walking, the leg pulls like a cramp. If it is prolonged, leg hair or toenails do not grow well.
Researchers at Northwestern University in the US divided 264 patients with peripheral arterial disease into three groups and observed them for one year. The first group did a low-intensity walking exercise at a comfortable pace that did not strain the legs, and the second group did a high-intensity walking exercise that felt cramps or pain. The last group did not exercise walking.
At 6 months, the high-intensity group walked 3.4 m/min faster than the low-intensity group and 4 m/min faster than the non-exercise group. At one year, the high-intensity group was 4.9 m/min faster than the low-intensity group. In the low-intensity group, there was no significant improvement in walking speed even after 6 to 12 months.
Dr. Mary McDermott said, “I was surprised by the results of the study because I thought that if a person with peripheral arterial disease walked painfully enough, there would be muscle damage,” said Dr. Mary McDermott. There is,” he said.
However, since this study was conducted on a treadmill, it is different from walking exercise under normal circumstances, so additional research is needed
The study, Effects of Walking Exercise at a Pace With Versus Without Ischemic Leg Symptoms on Functional Performance Measures in People With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: The LITE Randomized Clinical Trial, was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).
.jpg)
0 Comments