Polestriding Versus Walking for Subjects With Poor Leg Circulation

February 7, 2013 updated by: Eileen G. Collins, University of Illinois at Chicago

Polestriding Versus Walking for PAD Rehabilitation

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of polestriding (walking with poles) and traditional walking on physical endurance in subjects with poor circulation in their legs. Another goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a walking program in increasing the amount of oxygen in the calf muscles and therefore improving overall physical activity and quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD/PVD) is caused by decreased blood flow to the legs. The most common symptom is intermittent claudication pain during walking that is relieved by rest. Walking is the primary treatment prescribed for PAD rehabilitation. Polestriding uses muscles of the upper and lower body in a continuous movement. Walking with poles increases stride length, cadence and walking speed and decreases ground reaction forces on the joints. Subjects in this study will participate in a walking program with or without poles.

Dr. Collins' research focuses on physical activity interventions to improve the functional status of persons with chronic illness. Several rehabilitation studies have tested the efficacy of walking exercise for patients with PAD. Studies on polestriding indicate that it may be superior to traditional walking, but these two methods have never been compared. Approximately 30% of patients with coronary artery disease have PAD as their only symptom. As the population ages and more people are affected by this debilitating condition, nurse-initiated rehabilitative therapies, such as polestriding, need to be explored. The consent form explains the purpose of the study in addition to the procedures, risks, benefits, options, confidentiality, costs, and compensation. Participants are also asked to sign a HIPPA authorization.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

146

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Hines, Illinois, United States, 60141
        • Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Cramping/Claudication Pain in legs while walking
  • Ankle Brachial Index (measure of circulation by doppler) .90 or less

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Ulcers or sores on feet or legs
  • Unable to walk or confined to a wheelchair
  • Amputations or severe arthritis pain in shoulders, knees, or hips
  • Medical conditions which would exclude subject from participating in an exercise program
  • Vascular Surgery within the last six months, or planning vascular surgery

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Walking with Poles
Patients were assigned to a 24 week walking with poles program of rehabilitation. The intervention was the additional of poles to the walking program.
Behavioral: Walking with poles
Patients walked with poles, 20-45 minutes, 3 times/week for 24 weeks.
Other Names:
  • Exercise
Active Comparator: Traditional walking program
Patients were assigned to a 24 week traditional walking program.
Behavioral: Walking exercise
Patients walked for 20-45 minutes, 3 times/week for 24 weeks.
Other Names:
  • Exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Length of Exercise Duration on the Treadmill Constant Work Rate Exercise Test
Time Frame: Baseline and 24 weeks
Patients walked on the CWR test at 85% of his/her peak VO2 on the baseline progressive treadmill test. Since the polewalking group was older than the walking group, subject age was entered into the analysis as a co-variate. Intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses were used. The last measurement taken for all subjects with at least one follow-up test was carried forward (n=97).
Baseline and 24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Onset of Claudication Pain During Constant Work Rate Treadmill Test
Time Frame: At 24 weeks
Perceived pain onset was recorded during the constant workrate test using the Borg ratio scale. Patient rated their pain from 0-10. Time elapased on the treadmill (minutes) at the onset of pain was recorded.
At 24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Illinois at Chicago

Collaborators

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Eileen Collins, RN, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2005

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 17, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 17, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

July 21, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 12, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 7, 2013

Last Verified

February 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2004-0477
  • R01NR008877 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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