Study on the impact of improved walking on peripheral arterial flow

Introduction The study demonstrates that changes in the qualitative habits of human walking can improve peripheral arterial perfusion. The advised walking fashion requires little to no effort (1) and is coherent with the body’s natural development. Purpose Cardiovascular diseases stay silent for a long time (2). Their mechanical pathophysiological causes are underestimated (3, 4). This study proposes a precise mechanical solution of prevention for all, at lower risk, and sustainable. Method This study includes 39 patients. Each participant was their own witness. 31 women for 8 men aged between 17 and 72 years with a BMI from 16.6 to 32.49 kg/m2. The measurements, performed with a pulsed Echo-Doppler ultrasound, concern the maximum popliteal arterial velocity after walking 10 meters. The study compares the maximum popliteal arterial velocity after walking 10 meters in a usual fashion and after 10 meters in an optimized fashion, following mechanical tips to improve blood circulation. For a statistically valid comparison, patients follow a triple cross over distribution of groups. Results The maximum popliteal arterial velocity, after advised walking, were 2.1 times higher than the reference values obtained by walking in unaltered fashion (fig 1). This result was obtained with a p<0.0001, regardless of age, BMI, or gender and without significant increase in their heart rate (fig 2). Conclusions An improvement of popliteal arterial flow, after following mechanical tips, is obtained without modification of the heart rate, thus requiring less effort and being more accessible to all. The patient develops less mechanical stress with each step, feel less pain and inflammation, and is thus more prone to pursue his new habits. It is very often difficult to obtain the patient’s adhesion to change its habits (2). This study, using visual and auditory means such as the Echo-Doppler, provides educational resources to make the patient an actor of his health. Graphical representation of the results Measurements of heart rate