source of discussion:
Physical Activity Monitoring in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
G.J. Laureta, b, H.J.P. Fokkenrooda, b, B.L. Bendermachera, M.R.M. Scheltingac, d, J.A.W. Teijinka, b, Corresponding author contact information,
EJVES June 2014
The answer is: No, they are not active at all … and they are therefore likely to fail in any advice for self exercising (it appears)!!
their conclusions:
Methods
Before initiating treatment, 94 patients with newly diagnosed IC and 36 healthy controls were instructed to wear a tri-axial seismic accelerometer for 1 week. Daily PA levels (in metabolic equivalents, METs) were compared with the ACSM/AHA public health PA minimum recommendations (≥64 METs·min·day, in bouts of ≥10 minutes). A subgroup analysis assessed the effect of functional impairment on daily PA levels.
Results
Data from 56 IC patients and 27 healthy controls were available for analysis. Patients with IC demonstrated significantly lower mean daily PA levels (±SD) than controls (387 ± 198 METs·min vs. 500 ± 156 METs·min, p = .02). This difference was solely attributable to a subgroup of IC patients with the largest functional impairment (WIQ-score < 0.4). Only 45% of IC patients met the public health physical activity guidelines compared with 74% of the healthy controls (p = .01).
Conclusions
More than half of patients with IC do not meet recommended standards of PA. Considering the serious health risks associated with low PA levels, these findings underscore the need for more awareness to improve physical exercise in patients with IC.