Exercise in the treatment of intermittent claudication due to peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a relatively common manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis affecting 12-20 % of patients over 60 years of age. 1,2 In the general population the average incidence is 26/10,000 men and 12/10,000 women; about 25 % the incidence of coronary artery disease. PAD is more prevalent in patients who smoke cigarettes, those with diabetes mellitus and hypertensive patients. The primary symptom of PAD is intermittent claudication (painful walking) which is related to the impairment of muscle blood flow due to arterial stenoses at various levels in the peripheral arterial circulation. Patients with PAD remain relatively stable for long periods of time. At five years