Exercise Training and Revascularization in the Management of Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease

Central Illustration
Highlights • In the management of symptomatic peripheral artery disease, aerobic exercise therapy and lower extremity revascularization are the mainstays of therapy. • In this structured review, the most effective therapies, with 6 to 18 months of follow-up, indicated that exercise therapy and lower extremity revascularization each independently improve peak walking performance. • The combination of therapies was superior to either therapy alone and may decrease the need for subsequent revascularization. • Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term durability of these interventions, their impacts on subsequent invasive procedures, and predictors of response.
Summary Exercise therapy and lower extremity revascularization both improve walking performance in symptomatic patients with peripheral artery disease. The combination of therapies provides greater benefit than either alone and may reduce the need for subsequent revascularization procedures, but further trials with longer follow-up are needed for the outcome of subsequent revascularization.