Strapart J.1
1Erasmus Hospital and Free University of Brussels, Cardiovascular - Physiotherapy, Brussels, Belgium
Background: The lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a very prevalent and growing disease in the world. The most common clinical symptom is intermittent claudication (IC) which can be assessed by the six minutes walking distance (6MWD). PAD decreases the patient´s functional capacity and it is associated with greater morbidity and cardiovascular mortality. And quality of life of a patient with IC is represented by the walking distance.This is why a rehabilitation program containing endurance and strength training supervised by a physiotherapist is important.
Purpose: To analyse performance with 6MWD and measure by Cybex isokinetic strength at the knees and ankles in healthy subjects and patients with IC. To assess whether there is a correlation between walking distances and strength of lower limb.
Methods: We recruited nine healthy subjects over 55 years and nine patients with IC. They conducted 6MWD. We measured initial claudication distance (ICD) and total walking distance (TWD). Heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were measured to ensure patient safety. The intensity of the effort and pain were objectified by scales (Borg). Then, the peak torque strength (PTS) of the extensor and flexor at the knees and the ankles were measured using the Cybex.
Results: We observed a significant decrease of the TWD and PTS in patients with IC compared to healthy subjects. We noticed for the healthy population there was a strong correlation between the TWD during the 6MWD and the peak torque strenght at the knee extensor and flexor, and dorsal flexor of the ankle. The correlation with plantar flexor was only moderate. For patients with IC, we noticed a strong correlation between TWD and the peak torque strength at the knee extensor and flexor, but it was only moderate in the muscles of the ankle.
Conclusion(s): This correlation between the isokinetic strength and walking distance confirms that measure muscle strength of the lower limbs in the patient with IC is necessary. It gives up additional information on the patient´s functional status and therefore could be useful when patient assessment before, during and after supervised exercise training program by the physiotherapist.
Implications: We could study the isokinetic strength of the patient with IC before and after rehabilitation.
Funding acknowledgements: Correlation between the total walking distance and isokinetic strength in patient with intermittent claudication
Topic: Cardiorespiratory
Ethics approval: Ethic committee of the Erasmus Hospital in Brussels (Belgium)
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
