ON-SITE VERSUS HOME EXERCISE PROGRAMS - PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ARTERIAL CLAUDICATION

Exercise has been shown to improve walking ability in individuals with arterial claudication. This study compared the effects of an on-site supervised exercise program and a home exercise program on quality of life and psychological outcomes in these individuals. Sixty individual s were randomly assigned to a 12-week on-site or a 12-week home-based exercise program. Quality of life, mood and pain symptoms, and walking ability were examined at baseline, posttreatment, and at 6 months fol low-up. Individuals in the on-site exercise program showed significant ly greater improvements in walking ability. Although sample size limit ed the ability to detect significant differences between groups on qua lity of life and psychological measures, both groups were comparable o n improvements in quality of life and in mood. These data suggest that a home exercise program with weekly feedback may provide improved qua lity of life and mood benefits for individuals with arterial claudicat ion but does not provide improvements in walking equivalent to those p rovided by an on-site exercise program.