Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common disease among the elderly population and a growing epidemic due to the aging population. Leg pain that occurs while walking and is relieved with rest, known as intermittent claudication (IC), is the most common symptom of PAD. It is debilitating and severely impairs function and consequently quality of life (QoL). Exercise is an effect treatment for PAD and IC. However, patients are limited in the volume and intensity of exercise they can perform because of IC. Antigravity treadmills are an emerging technology that permits exercise at a reduced body weight. To date, no research has investigated whether exercising at reduced body weight on an antigravity treadmill delays or reduces IC symptoms.
This project aims to i) determine the effect of antigravity treadmill exercise on IC symptoms compared to full body weight exercise; and ii) identify the optimal antigravity treadmill protocol for patients with IC. Participants with claudication will perform 4 separate trials on an antigravity treadmill at 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% body weight. Time to the onset of IC and maximal IC and the aerobic intensity at which participants exercise will be measured. We hypothesize that antigravity treadmill exercise will reduce IC symptoms and allow participants to exercise for a longer duration. The project will identify the optimal antigravity treadmill protocol, which must provide sufficient relief in IC symptoms to allow participants to increase exercise volume but must also provide sufficient exercise intensity within the stimulus range required to induce adaptive responses.
