Research
Mixed
High-intensity exercise training (77-95% max HR or 14-17 Borg scale) improves walking performance and cardiorespiratory fitness more effectively than low-intensity training in PAD patients.
If you can tolerate it, aim for high-intensity walking during your supervised sessions. Use a heart rate monitor or the Borg scale (14-17) to guide your effort. This approach yields the best improvements in how far and how well you can walk.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Walking training performed at high intensity (77–95% of maximal heart rate or 14-17 on the Borg’s scale) should be considered to improve walking performance.
Why this rating
Supported by specific studies (Fassora et al.) and meta-analyses, though some heterogeneity exists.
Source
Exercise therapy for chronic symptomatic peripheral artery disease
Lucia Mazzolai et al. · European Heart Journal · 2024
DOI 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad734
clinical_guidelineCited 34×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Supervised exercise training (SET) is the first-line treatment for chronic symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication, significantly improving walking distance and functional status.Strong
- Home-based training (HBT) is a viable alternative to supervised exercise training (SET) when SET is not feasible, provided it is structured and monitored.Good
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