Walking training decreases cardiovascular load after walking to maximal intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Purpose: This study investigated whether: 1) walking training (WT) changes cardiovascular load after walking until maximal intermittent claudication (IC) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD); and 2) acute and chronic cardiovascular responses to walking were related to each other.

Methods: A randomized, controlled, parallel-group design was employed. Thirty-two men with PAD and IC were randomly assigned to one of two groups: WT (n=16) or control (CO, n=16) twice a week for 12 weeks.

Walking Training Increases microRNA-126 Expression and Muscle Capillarization in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) have reduced muscle capillary density. Walking training (WT) is recommended for PAD patients. The goal of the study was to verify whether WT promotes angiogenesis in PAD-affected muscle and to investigate the possible role of miRNA-126 and the vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) angiogenic pathways on this adaptation.