: Upper-extremity–focused training was equivalent to traditional lower-extremity exercise programs for peripheral artery disease.
Context
Guidelines recommend structured exercise therapy to improve symptoms and clinical outcomes in peripheral artery disease (PAD), with most evidence supporting lower-extremity aerobic exercise (LAE). Upper-extremity aerobic exercise programs (UAE; e.g., arm ergometry) have been studied as an alternative, but UAE and LAE have only been compared in small studies. In this systematic review, researchers examined data from 10 randomized trials in which 655 older adults (age range, 64–77) with PAD received UAE, LAE, or both. Duration of exercise interventions and follow-up ranged from 6 to 24 weeks.
Key Results
UAE and LAE were equally effective in improving some PAD outcomes, including maximal walking distance and pain-free walking distance.