Peripheral arterial disease (Pad)

Defined as a narrowing of noncardiac arteries that may result in reduction of blood flow. (NSCA)

Basic Exercise Guidelines:

• PLEASE NOTE: All clients with known CVDs, such as PAD, should obtain a medical clearance before commencing an exercise program. It is also highly recommended that clients with PAD, regardless of symptom severity, undergo exercise testing before initiating an exercise program so that the exercise professional can identify the level of exercise that results in symptoms (e.g., onset of pain and time to maximal pain), post exercise ankle pressure can be established, exercise prescription baseline information may be gathered (e.g., total walking distance before onset of pain), and, if not previously established, the presence of CVD may be determined.
• it is recommended mode of activity be weight-bearing large muscle group exercise such as walking, which has the added advantage of working the calf (particularly affected by PVD), more so than cycling or swimming
• recommended intensity is 40% to <60% heart rate reserve, or claudication pain of 3 out of 4, for 30 to 60 minutes of accumulated activity, three to seven days per week or 3-6 bouts of 10 mins at a time
• resistance training can be performed three days per week with a moderate intensity of 10 to 12 repetitions for one or two sets of upper and lower body exercise