Minimal walking distance following exercise treatment in patients with arterial occlusive disease.

79 patients with intermittent claudication were tested with peripheral blood pressure measurement and determination of minimal walking distance before and after a 3 months' period with scheduled walking exercises under supervision. No change in peripheral blood pressure was observed following the treatment whereas the minimum walking distance was increased with statistical significance. The gain was most pronounced in patients with an initial combination of high peripheral pressures and short walking distances. A graphic presentation allows for the estimation of the expected gain in individual patients with claudication.