Key result
Self-selected walking reduces SBP by ~6 mmHg in PAD patients, matching guideline-recommended exercise.
Why the study?
The post-exercise effects of self-selected exercise intensity compared with guideline-recommended intensity on blood pressure and heart rate variability in peripheral artery disease were unknown.
Does self-selected exercise intensity improve post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate recovery compared to guideline-recommended intensity in patients with peripheral artery disease?
RCT (n=20)
Single-blind
Simple randomization
Yes
Does self-selected exercise intensity improve post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate recovery compared to guideline-recommended intensity in patients with peripheral artery disease?
A single session of self-selected intensity walking provides comparable acute reductions in systolic blood pressure and similar heart rate recovery patterns as guideline-recommended intensity in patients with peripheral artery disease.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Self-selected walking enables flexible acute BP management in PAD; extends RCT evidence for individualized intensity prescriptions.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the post-exercise effects of self-selected exercise intensity compared with the intensity recommended by guidelines on blood pressure and heart rate variability in participants with peripheral artery disease. METHODS: This was a randomized crossover trial. Twenty participants with peripheral artery disease (52.6% men; 69.1±7.9 years; ankle-brachial index 0.59±0.15) underwent three experimental sessions: self-selected exercise intensity, intensity recommended by guidelines, and a control session (no exercise). Blood pressure (auscultatory method), heart rate, and heart rate variability were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Acute reductions in systolic blood pressure were observed in the exercise sessions compared to the control (p<0.005). The heart rate decreased after control and increased after exercise sessions (p<0.001). The absolute heart rate increase after exercise sessions were higher than that in the Control Group p<0.001. Heart rate recovery showed a progressive decrease post-session over 300 s (p<0.001), with the root mean square of successive differences significantly decreasing up to 60 seconds in both exercise sessions (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acute walking exercise sessions prescribed at self-selected exercise intensity had similar effects on reducing systolic blood pressure and heart rate recovery compared with walking exercise session performed at the guideline-recommended intensity. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT04333615.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Oliveira et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Peripheral artery disease (n=20). Self-selected intensity walking vs. Guideline-recommended intensity walking and resting control was evaluated on Change in systolic blood pressure 30 minutes post-intervention (95% CI -10.2 to -2.2, p=0.003). A single session of self-selected intensity walking reduced systolic blood pressure by 6.2 mmHg, providing comparable cardiovascular benefits to guideline-recommended exercise in patients with peripheral artery disease.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: