Bicycling in the Fight Against PAD
When dealing with a chronic disease like PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease), you have most likely heard the endless recommendation of walking. But what if you are unable to walk because of agonizing symptoms or other physical limitations? A study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery demonstrates the positive effects of routine bicycling for PAD patients. These participants engaged in a supervised 30-minute routine of stationary bike exercises complemented with a pre-warmup and cool-down routine. This was repeated three times a week for approximately 50 to 60 minutes over a three-month period.
The study found that the intermittent claudication (IC) time was improved. IC time is the amount of time it takes during an activity such as walking for pain to be felt in the afflicted individual’s calf or upper leg pain; this time of discomfort is only alleviated when physical movement has stopped. The pain is a result of inadequate blood flow during exertion. This study shows that the IC time improved while engaging in the bike exercise study, meaning patients were able to engage in exercise for longer periods of time before having to rest.
The study also shows an improvement in quality of life for PAD patients. Before the study, the patients were asked to complete a quality-of-life questionnaire, which numerically measures how chronic disease disturbs a person’s life and his or her enjoyment of living. The findings concluded that bicycling three times a week improves the agonizing and disruptive symptoms of PAD.
Finally, the exercise study showed that after three months of medically supervised bicycle exercise, the patients with PAD were able to walk longer distances successfully. Being able to walk for longer periods of time without painful limping provides positive reinforcement to continue with an exercise regimen and an overall healthy lifestyle.
Knowing that you can engage in bicycling to improve your leg muscle strength and ability to walk will lead to a marked improvement for your quality of life. Along with an exercise program, a low-fat diet can lead to weight loss that will also improve your PAD symptoms and quality of life.
Having a chronic illness like PAD is no fun, but there are positive active steps you can take to improve your disease and start to have fun again. Trying to stay active can be difficult for people suffering from PAD, but if you engage in proven paths of exercise and diet, you will gain hope through the progress you will make.
It’s never too late to start new and healthy habits! It just takes time, patience, and an excellent vascular surgeon like Dr. David Nabi, who can guide you toward improving your PAD symptoms.
For more information on improving your quality of life, contact Dr. David Nabi and set up an appointment today!