Introduction:
Evidence supporting the effects of supervised exercise therapy (SET) on alleviating symptoms and improving walking ability for patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) is robust and well recognized. However, little is known about the impact of SET on free-living physical activity (PA). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between participation in SET and changes in free-living PA among individuals in the the
EX
ercise Training to Reduce Claudication: Arm
ER
gometry versus
T
readmill Walking (
EXERT
) trial.
Methods:
In this randomized, controlled trial, 104 participants (mean age 68±9; 29% female) were allocated to receive treadmill (TM) exercise (n=41), upper body ergometry (UBE) exercise (n=42), or usual-care (UC) (n=21) for 12 weeks. Exercise participants attended SET three times per week; UC participants met with study staff weekly. PA was measured over 7 days via waist-worn ActiGraph accelerometers at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Steps per day was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were proportion of time in light and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time. PA was controlled for in TM participants by using SET logs. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, two-sample t-tests, and analysis of variance.
Results:
Regardless of randomization, average daily steps were low at baseline and 6 weeks (4,013 steps,
p
=.72; and 3,911 steps,
p
=.84, respectively), and slightly higher at 12 weeks (4,307 steps;
p
=.93). Although not statistically significant but perhaps clinically relevant, UBE participants exhibited greater increases in MVPA over 12 weeks (0.9% to 1.3%;
F
=.48,
p
=.62) compared to TM (1.2% to 1.3%;
F
=.35,
p
=.71) and UC (1.3% to 1.5%,
F
=.03,
p
=.97); similarly all participants exhibited reductions in sedentary time and increases in free-living PA between baseline and 12 weeks.
Conclusions:
These data suggest individuals with PAD attending SET replace sedentary time with light or moderate intensity PA regardless of exercise modality. Despite study participants meeting the recommended daily steps for adults with chronic conditions (3,500-5,500 steps), it is suspected that they did not reach the daily goal of 30 minutes of enhanced PA to reduce health risks. Future research should incorporate activity tracking devices that can provide feedback on PA as an approach to meet daily PA goals. Activity tracking devices used in conjunction with SET may further improve walking distance, symptom management, and quality of life among patients with symptomatic PAD.
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