Upper- vs lower-limb aerobic exercise rehabilitation in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease: a randomized controlled trial. Treadmill exercise and resistance training in patients with peripheral arterial disease with and without intermittent claudication: a randomized controlled trial. Effects of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise on Central Arterial Stiffness and Gait Velocity in Patients with Chronic Poststroke Hemiparesis Superiority of treadmill walking exercise versus strength training for patients with peripheral arterial disease. Implications for the mechanism of the training response. Efficacy of arm-ergometry versus treadmill exercise training to improve walking distance in patients with claudication Randomized controlled trial of resistance or aerobic exercise in men receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Comparison of the effect of upper body-ergometry aerobic training vs treadmill training on central cardiorespiratory improvement and walking distance in patients with claudication. Step‐Monitored Home Exercise Improves Ambulation, Vascular Function, and Inflammation in Symptomatic Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial Land versus water exercise in patients with coronary artery disease: effects on body composition, blood lipids, and physical fitness. Effect of Moderate Aerobic Exercise Training on Endothelial Function and Arterial Stiffness in CKD Stages 3-4: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Benefit of exercise conditioning for patients with peripheral arterial disease. Clinical benefits of the addition of lower extremity low-intensity resistance muscle training to early aerobic endurance training intervention in patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized controlled trial. Comparative effectiveness of aerobic, resistance, and combined training on cardiovascular disease risk factors: A randomized controlled trial A simple method for increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a pilot study of combination aerobic- and resistance-exercise training. Upper- versus lower-limb aerobic exercise training on health-related quality of life in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.
OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of a 24-week program of upper- and lower-limb aerobic exercise training on walking performance in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) and to study the mechanisms that could influence symptomatic improvement . METHODS After approval from the North Sheffield Local Research Ethics Committee , 104 patients ( median age , 69 years ; range , 50 to 85 years ) with stable PAD were r and omized into an upper- or lower-limb aerobic exercise training group ( UL-Ex or LL-Ex ) , or to a nonexercise training control group . Training was performed twice weekly for 24 weeks at equivalent relative exercise intensities . An incremental arm- and leg-crank test ( ACT and LCT ) to maximum exercise tolerance was performed before and at 6 , 12 , 18 , and 24 weeks of the intervention to determine peak oxygen consumption ( VO(2 ) ) . Walking performance , defined as the claudicating distance ( CD ) and maximum walking distance ( MWD ) achieved before intolerable claudication pain , was assessed at the same time points by using a shuttle-walk protocol . Peak blood lactate concentration , Borg ratings of perceived exertion ( RPE ) and pain category ratio ( CR-10 ) were recorded during all assessment s. RESULTS CD and MWD increased over time ( P < .001 ) in both training groups . At 24 weeks , CD had improved by 51 % and 57 % , and MWD had improved by 29 % and 31 % ( all P < .001 ) in the UL-Ex and LL-Ex groups , respectively . An increase in peak heart rate at MWD in the UL-Ex group ( 109 + /- 4 vs 115 + /- 4 beats/min ; P < .01 ) and LL-Ex group ( 107 + /- 3 vs 118 + /- 3 beats/min ; P = .01 ) was accompanied by an increase in the amount of pain experienced in both groups ( P < .05 ) , suggesting that exercising patients could tolerate a higher level of cardiovascular stress and an increased intensity of claudication pain before test termination after training . Patients assigned to exercise training also showed an increase in LCT peak VO2 at the 24-week time point in relation to baseline ( P < .01 ) and control patients ( P < .01 ) , whereas ACT peak VO2 was only improved in the UL-Ex group ( P < .05 ) . CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that a combination of physiologic adaptations and improved exercise pain tolerance account for the improvement in walking performance achieved through upper-limb aerobic exercise training in patients with PAD . Furthermore , that both arm- and leg-crank training could be useful exercise training modalities for improving cardiovascular function , walking performance , and exercise pain tolerance in patients with symptomatic PAD CONTEXT Neither supervised treadmill exercise nor strength training for patients with peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) without intermittent claudication have been established as beneficial . OBJECTIVE To determine whether supervised treadmill exercise or lower extremity resistance training improve functional performance of patients with PAD with or without claudication . DESIGN , SETTING , AND PARTICIPANTS R and omized controlled clinical trial performed at an urban academic medical center between April 1 , 2004 , and August 8 , 2008 , involving 156 patients with PAD who were r and omly assigned to supervised treadmill exercise , to lower extremity resistance training , or to a control group .  MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Six-minute walk performance and the short physical performance battery . Secondary outcomes were brachial artery flow-mediated dilation , treadmill walking performance , the Walking Impairment Question naire , and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey physical functioning ( SF-36 PF ) score . RESULTS For the 6-minute walk , those in the supervised treadmill exercise group increased their distance walked by 35.9 m ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 15.3 - 56.5 m ; P < .001 ) compared with the control group , whereas those in the resistance training group increased their distance walked by 12.4 m ( 95 % CI , -8.42 to 33.3 m ; P = .24 ) compared with the control group . Neither exercise group improved its short physical performance battery scores . For brachial artery flow-mediated dilation , those in the treadmill group had a mean improvement of 1.53 % ( 95 % CI , 0.35%-2.70 % ; P = .02 ) compared with the control group . The treadmill group had greater increases in maximal treadmill walking time ( 3.44 minutes ; 95 % CI , 2.05 - 4.84 minutes ; P < .001 ) ; walking impairment distance score ( 10.7 ; 95 % CI , 1.56 - 19.9 ; P = .02 ) ; and SF-36 PF score ( 7.5 ; 95 % CI , 0.00 - 15.0 ; P = .02 ) than the control group . The resistance training group had greater increases in maximal treadmill walking time ( 1.90 minutes ; 95 % CI , 0.49 - 3.31 minutes ; P = .009 ) ; walking impairment scores for distance ( 6.92 ; 95 % CI , 1.07 - 12.8 ; P = .02 ) and stair climbing ( 10.4 ; 95 % CI , 0.00 - 20.8 ; P = .03 ) ; and SF-36 PF score ( 7.5 ; 95 % CI , 0.0 - 15.0 ; P = .04 ) than the control group . CONCLUSIONS Supervised treadmill training improved 6-minute walk performance , treadmill walking performance , brachial artery flow-mediated dilation , and quality of life but did not improve the short physical performance battery scores of PAD participants with and without intermittent claudication .  Lower extremity resistance training improved functional performance measured by treadmill walking , quality of life , and stair climbing ability . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00106327 Objective The effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training on central arterial stiffness and gait velocity in patients with chronic poststroke hemiparesis were investigated . Design Twenty-six patients with chronic poststroke hemiparesis were r and omly assigned to either the combined aerobic and resistance exercise group ( n = 14 ) or the control group ( n = 12 ) . The exercise intervention group received a combined aerobic and resistance exercise training ( 1 hr/day , three times/week for 16 wks ) , whereas the control group received usual care .  Central arterial stiffness was determined by pulse wave velocity and augmentation index . Gait velocity was assessed using the 6-min walk test , 10-m walk test , and the Timed Up- and -Go test . Results Patients in the exercise intervention group had greater improvement of mean pulse wave velocity ( P < 0.001 ) , augmentation index ( P = 0.048 ) , and gait velocity ( 6-min walk test , P < 0.001 ; 10-m walk test , P < 0.001 ) than did patients in the control group . Patients in the exercise intervention group also had greater improvements in physical fitness component ( grip strength , P < 0.001 ; muscular strength of upper and lower limbs , P < 0.027 ; flexibility , P < 0.001 ) when compared with control patients . Conclusions The combined aerobic and resistance exercise program significantly reduced central arterial stiffness and increased gait velocity in patients with chronic poststroke hemiparesis BACKGROUND In patients with intermittent claudication , a supervised walking exercise program increases peak exercise performance and community-based functional status .  Patients with peripheral arterial disease also have muscle weakness in the affected extremity that may contribute to the walking impairment . However , the potential benefits of training modalities other than walking exercise , such as strength training , have not been critically evaluated in this patient population . The present study tested the hypothesis that a strength training program would be as effective as treadmill walking exercise and that combinations of strengthening and walking exercise would be more effective than either alone in improving exercise performance . METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-nine patients with disabling claudication were r and omized to 12 weeks of supervised walking exercise on a treadmill ( 3 h/wk at a work intensity sufficient to produce claudication ) , strength training ( 3 h/wk of resistive training of five muscle groups of each leg ) , or a nonexercising control group . Grade d treadmill testing was performed to maximally tolerated claudication pain to define changes in peak exercise performance . After 12 weeks , patients in the treadmill training program had a 74 + /- 58 % increase in peak walking time as well as improvements in peak oxygen consumption ( VO2 ) and the onset of claudication pain . Patients in the strength-trained group had a 36 + /- 48 % increase in peak walking time but no change in peak VO2 or claudication onset time . Control subjects had no changes in any of these measures over the 12-week period . After the first 12 weeks , patients in the initial walking exercise group continued for 12 more weeks of supervised treadmill training . This result ed in an additional 49 + /- 53 % increase in peak walking time ( total of 128 + /- 99 % increase over the 24 weeks ) . After the initial 12 weeks , patients in the strength-trained group began 12 weeks of supervised treadmill training , and patients in the control group participated in a 12-week combined program of strengthening and treadmill walking exercise . The combined strength and treadmill training program and treadmill training after 12 weeks of strength training result ed in increases in peak exercise performance similar to those observed with 12 weeks of treadmill training alone . CONCLUSIONS A supervised treadmill walking exercise program is an effective means to improve exercise performance in patients with intermittent claudication , with continued improvement over 24 weeks of training . In contrast , 12 weeks of strength training was less effective than 12 weeks of supervised treadmill walking exercise . Finally , strength training , whether sequential or concomitant , did not augment the response to a walking exercise program Abstract The efficacy of treadmill walking training to improve pain-free ( PFWD ) and maximal ( MWD ) walking distance in patients with claudication is well documented . The effects of aerobic arm-ergometry to improve PFWD and MWD compared to treadmill walking or usual care are not known . Forty-one participants ( 29 male , 12 female , mean age 67.7 years , 92.7 % smoking history , 36.6 % with diabetes ) with lifestyle-limiting claudication were r and omized to 12 weeks of 3 hours/week of supervised exercise training using either arm-ergometry , treadmill walking , or a combination , versus control .  PFWD and MWD were assessed before and after training , and after 12 weeks of follow-up . The 12-week MWD increased significantly in the arm-ergometry ( + 53 % ) , treadmill ( + 69 % ) , and combination ( + 68 % ) groups ( p < 0.002 versus control ) . The 24-week MWD was maintained in the arm-ergometry ( p = 0.009 ) and treadmill ( p = 0.019 ) groups , whereas the combination group declined ( p = 0.751 ) versus control . The 12-week PFWD increased significantly in the arm-ergometry group ( + 82 % ; p = 0.025 versus control ) . Change in PFWD in treadmill ( + 54 % ; p = 0.196 versus control ) and combination ( + 60 % ; p = 0.107 versus control ) groups did not reach statistical significance . PFWD improvement was maintained in the arm-ergometry group after a 12-week follow-up ( + 123 % ; p = 0.011 versus control ) . In conclusion , these pilot data demonstrate for the first time that dynamic arm exercise training can improve walking capability in people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD)-induced claudication compared to participants receiving usual care and that improvement was not different from that seen with treadmill walking exercise training . Dynamic arm exercise may be a therapeutic exercise option for patients with PAD PURPOSE Radiotherapy for prostate cancer ( PCa ) may cause unfavorable changes in fatigue , quality of life ( QOL ) , and physical fitness . We report results from the Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy and Exercise Versus Normal Treatment study examining the effects of 24 weeks of resistance or aerobic training versus usual care on fatigue , QOL , physical fitness , body composition , prostate-specific antigen , testosterone , hemoglobin , and lipid levels in men with PCa receiving radiotherapy . PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 2003 and 2006 , we conducted a r and omized controlled trial in Ottawa , Canada , where 121 PCa patients initiating radiotherapy with or without and rogen deprivation therapy  were r and omly assigned to usual care ( n = 41 ) , resistance ( n = 40 ) , or aerobic exercise ( n = 40 ) for 24 weeks . Our primary end point was fatigue assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue scale . RESULTS The follow-up assessment rate for our primary end point of fatigue was 92.6 % . Median adherence to prescribed exercise was 85.5 % . Mixed-model repeated measures analyses indicated both resistance ( P = .010 ) and aerobic exercise ( P = .004 ) mitigated fatigue over the short term . Resistance exercise also produced longer-term improvements ( P = .002 ) . Compared with usual care , resistance training improved QOL ( P = .015 ) , aerobic fitness ( P = .041 ) , upper- ( P < .001 ) and lower-body ( P < .001 ) strength , and triglycerides ( P = .036 ) , while preventing an increase in body fat ( P = .049 ) . Aerobic training also improved fitness ( P = .052 ) . One serious adverse event occurred in the group that performed aerobic exercise . CONCLUSION In the short term , both resistance and aerobic exercise mitigated  fatigue in men with PCa receiving radiotherapy  . Resistance exercise generated longer-term improvements and additional benefits for QOL , strength , triglycerides , and body fat BACKGROUND Supervised treadmill-walking exercise programs have been proven to be a highly effective in improving walking distance in peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) patients with lifestyle-limiting claudication . Limited information is available on the contributions of central cardiorespiratory functions for improving these patients ' walking capacity with exercise training . METHODS This study r and omized 28 participants ( 21 men ; age , 65.6 years ; 92.7 % smoking history , 36.6 % with diabetes ) with lifestyle-limiting PAD-related claudication to 3 hours/week of supervised exercise training for 12 weeks  , using arm-ergometry ( n = 10 ) or treadmill-walking ( n = 10 ) vs a usual-care control group ( n = 8) . Cardiorespiratory function measurements were assessed before and after training at a submaximal workload and at the onset of claudication ( pain-free walking distance [ PFWD ] ) and at maximal walking distance [ ( MWD ] ) . Changes in these functions from baseline were analyzed among the groups with analysis of covariance . Associations between variables were determined by Pearson 's partial correlations . RESULTS The mean baseline demographic , medical , and exercise variables were similar among the groups . There were similar significant differences in the submaximal double product ( heart rate × systolic blood pressure ) and at MWD , ventilatory threshold , ventilatory oxygen uptake ( VO(2 ) ) at onset of claudication , and VO(2 ) peak in response to training in both exercise groups vs the control group . Statistically significant , moderate correlations ( r = 0.60 - 0.68 ) were found between changes in all cardiorespiratory variables and changes in PFWD or MWD . CONCLUSION Improvements in cardiorespiratory function after arm-ergometry or treadmill-training were significantly associated with improvements in both PFWD and MWD , providing supporting evidence of systemic contributions to exercise training-related improvements in walking capacity seen in patients with claudication Background This prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled clinical trial compared changes in primary outcome measures of claudication onset time ( COT ) and peak walking time ( PWT ) , and secondary outcomes of submaximal exercise performance , daily ambulatory activity , vascular function , inflammation , and calf muscle hemoglobin oxygen saturation ( StO2 ) in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease ( PAD ) following new exercise training using a step watch ( NEXT Step ) home‐exercise program , a supervised exercise program , and an attention‐control group . Methods and Results One hundred eighty patients were r and omized . The NEXT Step program and the supervised exercise program consisted of intermittent walking to mild‐to‐moderate claudication pain for 12 weeks , whereas the controls performed light resistance training . Change scores for COT ( P<0.001 ) , PWT ( P<0.001 ) , 6‐minute walk distance ( P=0.028 ) , daily average cadence ( P=0.011 ) , time to minimum calf muscle StO2 during exercise ( P=0.025 ) , large‐artery elasticity index ( LAEI ) ( P=0.012 ) , and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein ( hsCRP ) ( P=0.041 ) were significantly different among the 3 groups . Both the NEXT Step home program and the supervised exercise program demonstrated a significant increase from baseline in COT , PWT , 6‐minute walk distance , daily average cadence , and time to minimum calf StO2 . Only the NEXT Step home group had improvements from baseline in LAEI , and hsCRP ( P<0.05 ) . Conclusions NEXT Step home exercise utilizing minimal staff supervision has low attrition , high adherence , and is efficacious in improving COT and PWT , as well as secondary outcomes of submaximal exercise performance , daily ambulatory activity , vascular function , inflammation , and calf muscle StO2 in symptomatic patients with PAD . Clinical Trial Registration URL : Clinical Trials.gov . Unique Identifier : NCT00618670 BACKGROUND We examined the effects of combined resistance and aerobic training on l and versus combined resistance and aerobic training in water in patients with coronary artery disease . METHODS Thirty-four patients were r and omly assigned to l and exercise ( LE , n = 12 ) , water exercise ( WE , n = 12 ) , and control ( n = 10 ) groups . The LE group trained 4 times per week , twice with aerobic exercise and twice with resistance training . The WE program included aquatic aerobic activities 2 times per week and resistance exercise at the same frequency carried out in water . The duration of the training programs was 4 months . Body composition measurements , blood lipids , exercise stress testing , and muscular strength were obtained at the beginning and at the end of the training period . RESULTS After 4 months of training , analysis of covariance revealed that body weight and sum of skinfolds were lower for WE and LE groups than for the control group . Patients who trained in water improved exercise time ( + 11.7 % vs + 8.1 % ) and maximum strength ( + 12.8 % vs + 12.9 % ) in a similar manner compared to the patients who trained on l and . Total cholesterol ( WE -4.4 % , LE -3.3 % ) and triglycerides ( WE -10.2 % , LE -11.8 % ) decreased significantly for both exercise groups but not for the control group . CONCLUSIONS Exercise programs that combine resistance and aerobic exercise performed either on l and or in water can both improve exercise tolerance and muscular strength in patients with coronary artery disease . Furthermore , both programs induce similar favorable adaptations on total cholesterol , triglycerides , and body composition BACKGROUND Evidence of a beneficial effect of exercise training on mediators of vascular disease is accumulating in chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) , but its effect on vascular function in vivo still has to be established . The present study was design ed to investigate whether a formal aerobic exercise training program improves peripheral endothelial function in patients with CKD stages 3 to 4 . STUDY DESIGN R and omized controlled trial with a parallel-group design . SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 48 patients with CKD stages 3 to 4 without established cardiovascular disease were r and omly assigned to either an exercise training program or usual care . 40 patients completed the study ( exercise training , 19 ; usual care , 21 ) . INTERVENTION The 3-month home-based aerobic training program consisted of 4 daily cycling sessions of 10 minutes each at a target heart rate , calculated as 90 % of the heart rate achieved at the anaerobic threshold . Patients in the usual-care group were given st and ard therapy . OUTCOMES The primary outcome was peripheral endothelial function . Secondary outcomes were aerobic capacity , arterial stiffness , numbers of endothelial ( EPCs ) and osteogenic progenitor cells ( OPCs ) , migratory function of circulatory angiogenic cells , and health-related quality of life . MEASUREMENTS Endothelial function was assessed with flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery , aerobic capacity by peak oxygen uptake ( VO(2peak ) ) , arterial stiffness by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity , numbers of EPCs and OPCs by flow cytometry , circulatory angiogenic cell function by an in vitro migratory assay , and quality of life by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form question naire . RESULTS Exercise training significantly improved VO(2peak ) and quality of life , but not in vivo vascular function ( flow-mediated dilation and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity ) or cellular markers for vascular function ( EPC and OPC count and circulatory angiogenic cell migratory function ) . LIMITATIONS Short duration and intermittent nature of the exercise intervention . CONCLUSIONS In patients with CKD stages 3 to 4 without overt cardiovascular disease , 3 months of aerobic exercise training improved VO(2peak ) and quality of life , without altering endothelial function or arterial stiffness Patients with atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) of the lower extremities have impaired walking ability due to exercise-induced muscle ischemia and the result ant pain of intermittent claudication . To evaluate the benefit of exercise training as a treatment for patients with PAD , as well as possible mechanisms associated with improvement , we r and omly assigned 19 men with disabling claudication to treated and control groups . Treatment consisted of supervised treadmill walking ( 1 hr/day , 3 days/wk , for 12 weeks ) with progressive increases in speed and grade as tolerated . Grade d treadmill testing was performed to maximal toleration of claudication pain on entry and after 12 weeks of training to define changes in peak exercise performance . After 12 weeks , treated subjects had increased their peak walking time 123 % , peak oxygen consumption 30 % , and pain-free walking time 165 % ( all p less than 0.05 ) . Control subjects had no change in peak oxygen consumption , but after 12 weeks , peak walking time increased 20 % ( p less than 0.05 ) . In treated subjects , maximal calf blood flow ( measured by a plethysmograph ) increased 38 + /- 45 % ( p less than 0.05 ) , but the change in flow was not correlated to the increase in peak walking time . Elevated plasma concentrations of acylcarnitines have been associated with the functional impairment of PAD and may reflect the metabolic state of ischemic skeletal muscle . In treated subjects , a 26 % decrease in resting plasma short-chain acylcarnitine concentration was correlated with improvement in peak walking time ( r = -0.78 , p less than 0.05 ) . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS OBJECTIVE Muscle resistance training is often combined with aerobic endurance training during rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease . However , the clinical effects of additional lower-extremity low-intensity muscle resistance training during early rehabilitation ( within the first month after coronary revascularization ) in patients with coronary artery disease remain unclear . DESIGN Prospect i ve r and omized controlled trial . SUBJECTS Sixty patients with coronary artery disease . METHODS Subjects were r and omly assigned to early aerobic endurance training ( n = 30 ) or combined aerobic endurance and resistance muscle training ( n = 30 ) . Subjects performed 18 ( st and ard deviation 2 ) exercise sessions ( at 65 % VO(2peak ) , for 40 mins/session ) . In resistance muscle training , additional low-intensity ( 12 - 20 repetition maximum ) resistance muscle exercises were performed . The following parameters were evaluated : exercise capacity , body composition , blood lipid profile , glycaemic control , blood endothelial progenitor cell and cytokine content , and muscle performance . RESULTS A total of 47 patients with coronary artery disease completed the intervention . Total body lean tissue mass tended to increase with greater magnitude ( p = 0.07 ) , and blood high-density lipid cholesterol content increased with significantly greater magnitude in resistance muscle training ( p < 0.05 ) , compared with aerobic endurance training . Maximal exercise capacity , ventilatory threshold , and muscle performance increased , and steady-state exercise respiratory exchange ratio , and adipose tissue mass reduced significantly ( p < 0.05 ) , without differences between groups ( p < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION In early aerobic endurance training intervention in patients with coronary artery disease , additional low-intensity resistance muscle training contributes to a greater increase in blood high-density lipid cholesterol content , and tends to affect lean tissue mass Although exercise has well-documented health benefits on cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) , the benefit of combination exercise on CVD risk factors in individuals with elevated risk has not been fully eluci date d. We compared the effects of aerobic , resistance , and a combination of both aerobic and resistance training on CVD risk factors including peripheral and central BP , cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) , muscular strength , body composition , blood glucose and lipids .  Sixty-nine adults ( 58±7 years ) with an elevated blood pressure or hypertension , overweight/obesity , and sedentary lifestyle were r and omized to one of the three 8-week exercise programs or a non-exercise control group . Participants in all three exercise groups had an equal total exercise time , 3 days/week ( aerobic : 60 minutes/session vs. resistance : 60 minutes/session vs. combination : aerobic 30 minutes/session plus resistance 30 minutes/session ) . Combined training provided significant reductions in peripheral ( -4 mmHg ) and central diastolic BP ( -4 mmHg ) , increase in CRF ( 4.9 ml/kg/min ) , increase in upper ( 4 kg ) and lower ( 11 kg ) body strength , and increase in lean body mass ( 0.8 kg ) ( p < 0.05 ) . Aerobic training only increased CRF ( 7.7 ml/kg/min ) , and reduced body weight ( -1.0 kg ) and fat mass ( -0.9 kg ) ( p < 0.05 ) . Resistance training only increased lower body strength ( 13 kg ) and reduced waist circumference ( -1.7 cm ) ( p < 0.05 ) . However , neither aerobic or resistance training alone showed significant reductions in BP ( p>0.05 ) . Furthermore , a composite score of CVD risk factors indicated a greater reduction with combination training compared to the control group . In conclusion , among individuals at an increased risk for CVD , as little as 8-weeks of combined training may provide more comprehensive CVD benefits compared to time-matched aerobic or resistance training alone Evidence suggests that physical activity has a beneficial effect of elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) on reducing coronary artery risk . However , previous studies show contrasting results for this association between different types of exercise training ( i.e. , aerobic , resistance , or combined aerobic and resistance training ) . The aim of this study was to determine which type of exercise training is more effective in increasing HDL-C levels .  Forty obese men , age 18 - 29 yr , were r and omized into 4 groups : an aerobic-training group ( n = 10 ) , a resistance-training group ( n = 10 ) , a combined-exercise-training group ( n = 10 ) , and a control group ( n = 10 ) . After a 12-wk exercise program , anthropometrics , blood biochemical variables , and physical-fitness components were compared with the data obtained at the baseline . Multiple-regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between different types of exercise training and changes in HDL-C while adjusting for potential confounders . The results showed that with the control group as the comparator , the effects of combined-exercise training ( β = 4.17 , p < .0001 ) , aerobic training ( β = 3.65 , p < .0001 ) , and resistance training ( β = 2.10 , p = .0001 ) were positively associated with increase in HDL-C after adjusting for potential confounders . Our findings suggested that a short-term exercise program can play an important role in increasing HDL-C levels ; either aerobic or resistance training alone significantly increases the HDL-C levels , but the improvements are greatest with combined aerobic and resistance training OBJECTIVE This r and omized controlled trial investigated the effects of upper- and lower-limb aerobic exercise training on disease-specific functional status and generic health-related quality of life ( QOL ) in patients with intermittent claudication . METHODS The study recruited 104 patients ( mean age , 68 years ; range , 50 - 85 ) from the Sheffield Vascular Institute . Patients were r and omly allocated to groups that received upper-limb ( ULG ) or lower-limb ( LLG ) aerobic exercise training , or to a nonexercise control group . Exercise was performed twice weekly for 24 weeks at equivalent limb-specific relative exercise intensities . Main outcome measures were scores on the Walking Impairment Question naire ( WIQ ) for disease-specific functional status , the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form version 2 ( SF-36v2 ) , and European Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale ( EQ-VAS ) for health-related QOL . Outcomes were assessed at baseline , and at 6 , 24 , 48 , and 72 weeks . RESULTS After 6 weeks , improvements in the perceived severity of claudication ( P = .023 ) and stair climbing ability ( P = .011 ) vs controls were observed in the ULG , and an improvement in the general health domain of the SF-36v2 vs controls was observed in the LLG ( P = .010 ) . After 24 weeks , all four WIQ domains were improved in the ULG vs controls ( P ≤ .05 ) , and three of the four WIQ domains were improved in the LLG ( P < .05 ) . After 24 to 72 weeks of follow-up , more consistent changes in generic health-related QOL domains were apparent in the ULG . CONCLUSIONS These findings support the use of alternative , relatively pain-free forms of exercise in the clinical management of patients with intermittent claudication
Conclusions : Currently , there is insufficient evidence about the effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise compared to isolated aerobic exercise or usual care on walking performance .
However , despite the low quality of evidence , the combined aerobic and resistance exercise seems to be an effective strategy to improve walking performance in patients with intermittent claudication .
These combined exercise modes or isolated aerobic exercise produce positive and significant results on walking performance .
The usual care approach has a trend to deteriorate the walking performance .
Background : The short-term benefits of aerobic and resistance exercise in subjects affected by Peripheral Arterial Disease ( PAD ) are scarcely examined in interaction .
This study aim ed to identify the effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise programs on walking performance compared with isolated aerobic exercise or with the usual care in patients with intermittent claudication .