School of Health and Kinesiology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska.
Department of Physical Education, Dong-Eui University, Busan, South Korea.
J Appl Physiol (1985). 2019 Oct 1;127(4):940-949. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00209.2019. Epub 2019 Aug 1.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic disease that is associated with attenuated vascular function, cardiorespiratory capacity, physical function, and muscular strength. It is essential to combat these negative effects on health by incorporating lifestyle interventions to slow disease progression, such as exercise. We sought to examine the effects of aquatic walking exercise on cardiovascular function, cardiorespiratory capacity [maximal volume of oxygen consumption (V̇o)], exercise tolerance [6-min walking distance (6MWD)], physical function, muscular strength, and body composition in patients with PAD. Patients with PAD ( = 72) were recruited and randomly assigned to a 12-wk aquatic walking training group (AQ, = 35) or a control group (CON, = 37). The AQ group performed walking and leg exercises in waist-to-chest-deep water. Leg arterial stiffness [femoral-to-ankle pulse wave velocity (legPWV)], heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), ankle-to-brachial index (ABI), V̇o, 6MWD, physical function, muscular strength, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and flexibility were measured before and after 12 wk. There were significant group × time interactions ( < 0.05) after 12 wk for legPWV and HR, which significantly decreased ( < 0.05) in AQ, and V̇o, 6MWD, physical function, and muscular strength, which significantly increased ( < 0.05) in AQ, compared with no changes in CON. There were no significant differences ( > 0.05) for BP, ABI, RMR, or flexibility after 12 wk. Interestingly, there was relatively high adherence (84%) to the aquatic walking exercise program in this population. These results suggest that aquatic walking exercise is an effective therapy to reduce arterial stiffness and resting HR and improve cardiorespiratory capacity, exercise tolerance, physical function, and muscular strength in patients with PAD. The results of this study reveal for the first time that aquatic walking exercise can decrease arterial stiffness and improve exercise tolerance, cardiorespiratory capacity, and muscular strength in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Aquatic walking exercise training demonstrates relatively high exercise adherence in this population. Aquatic walking exercise training may be a useful therapeutic intervention for improving physical function in patients with PAD.
外周动脉疾病 (PAD) 是一种动脉粥样硬化疾病，与血管功能减弱、心肺能力、身体功能和肌肉力量有关。通过纳入生活方式干预措施来减缓疾病进展，如运动，对抗这些对健康的负面影响至关重要。我们旨在研究水中步行运动对 PAD 患者心血管功能、心肺能力[最大摄氧量 (V̇o)]、运动耐力[6 分钟步行距离 (6MWD)]、身体功能、肌肉力量和身体成分的影响。招募了 PAD 患者 ( = 72)，并将他们随机分配到为期 12 周的水中步行训练组 (AQ， = 35) 或对照组 (CON， = 37)。AQ 组在齐腰深的水中进行步行和腿部运动。腿部动脉僵硬度[股踝脉搏波速度 (legPWV)]、心率 (HR)、血压 (BP)、踝肱指数 (ABI)、V̇o、6MWD、身体功能、肌肉力量、身体成分、静息代谢率 (RMR) 和柔韧性在 12 周前后进行了测量。12 周后，legPWV 和 HR 出现显著的组×时间交互作用 ( < 0.05)，AQ 组的 legPWV 和 HR 显著降低 ( < 0.05)，AQ 组的 V̇o、6MWD、身体功能和肌肉力量显著增加 ( < 0.05)，而 CON 组则没有变化。12 周后，BP、ABI、RMR 或柔韧性无显著差异 ( > 0.05)。有趣的是，在该人群中，对水中步行运动方案的依从性相对较高 (84%)。这些结果表明，水中步行运动是一种有效的治疗方法，可以降低动脉僵硬度和静息 HR，并改善 PAD 患者的心肺能力、运动耐力、身体功能和肌肉力量。这项研究首次表明，水中步行运动可以降低外周动脉疾病 (PAD) 患者的动脉僵硬度和提高运动耐力、心肺能力和肌肉力量。在该人群中，水中步行运动训练显示出相对较高的运动依从性。水中步行运动训练可能是改善 PAD 患者身体功能的一种有用的治疗干预措施。
