Influence of interval training on the physical capacity and peripheral circulation in patients with intermittent claudication

Physical performance on treadmill and calf blood flow (venous occlusion plethysmography) were determined in 6 patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication before and after a 10-weeks period of intervall training. Arteriosclerotic occlusions of femoral artery were proved on arteriography in all cases. After training, a significant improvement of the claudication distance and the work performed on the treadmill on an average of 44% were stated, whereas nnd. The peripheral blood flow at rest and after 3 minutes circulatpressed as area under the blood flow curve during reactive hyperaemia) on an average of 54%. The benefits of a controlled home-training program as the necessity of investigation at maximal stress, when assessing the haemodynamic effects of physical training, are pointed out.