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Background Claudication is a common and disabling symptom of peripheral artery disease that can be treated with medication, supervised exercise or stent revascularization. Methods We randomly assigned 111 patients with aortoiliac peripheral artery disease to receive one of three treatments: optimal medical care [OMC], OMC plus supervised exercise [(SE], or OMC plus stent revascularization [ST]. The primary endpoint was the change in peak walking time (PWT) on a graded treadmill test at 6 months as compared with baseline. Secondary endpoints included free-living step activity, quality of life (QOL) using the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) and Peripheral Artery Questionnaire (PAQ), and cardiovascular risk factors. Results At six month follow-up, change in PWT (the primary endpoint) was greatest for SE, intermediate for ST, and least with OMC (mean change vs. baseline 5.8±4.6, 3.7±4.9, and 1.2±2.6 minutes, respectively; p<0.001 for the comparison of SE vs. OMC; p=0.02 for ST vs. OMC; and p=0.04 for SE vs. ST). Although disease-specific quality of life as assessed by the WIQ and PAQ also improved with both SE and ST compared with OMC, for most scales the extent of improvement was greater with ST than SE. Free-living step activity increased more with ST than with either SE or OMC alone (114±274 vs. 73±139 vs. −6±109 steps/hour) but these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions Supervised exercise treatment results in superior treadmill walking performance than stent placement, even for those with aortoiliac PAD. The contrast between better walking performance for SE and better patient-reported QOL for ST warrants further study.

Although exercise is often recommended for managing osteoarthritis (OA), limited evidence-based exercise options are available for older adults with OA. This study compared the effects of Hatha yoga (HY) and aerobic/strengthening exercises (ASE) on knee OA. Randomized controlled trial with three arms design was used: HY, ASE, and education control. Both HY and ASE groups involved 8 weekly 45-min group classes with 2–4 days/week home practice sessions. Control group received OA education brochures and weekly phone calls from study staff. Standardized instruments were used to measure OA symptoms, physical function, mood, spiritual health, fear of falling, and quality of life at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. HY/ASE adherences were assessed weekly using class attendance records and home practice video recordings. Primary analysis of the difference in the change from baseline was based on intent-to-treat and adjusted for baseline values. Eight-three adults with symptomatic knee OA completed the study (84% female; mean age 71.6 ± 8.0 years; mean BMI 29.0 ± 7.0 kg/m2). Retention rate was 82%. Compared to the ASE group at 8 weeks, participants in the HY group had a significant improvement from baseline in perception of OA symptoms (−9.6 [95% CI −15.3, −4]; p = .001), anxiety (−1.4 [95% CI −2.7, −0]; p = .04), and fear of falling (−4.6 [−7.5, −1.7]; p = .002). There were no differences in class/home practice adherence between HY and ASE. Three non-serious adverse events were reported from the ASE group. Both HY and ASE improved symptoms and function but HY may have superior benefits for older adults with knee OA.

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 randomized 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.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered a model of accelerated aging. More specifically, CKD leads to reduced physical functioning and increased frailty, increased vascular dysfunction, vascular calcification and arterial stiffness, high levels of systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress, as well as increased cognitive impairment. Increasing evidence suggests that the cognitive impairment associated with CKD may be related to cerebral small vessel disease and overall impairment in white matter integrity. The triad of poor physical function, vascular dysfunction, and cognitive impairment places patients living with CKD at an increased risk for loss of independence, poor health-related quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. The purpose of this review is to discuss the available evidence of cerebrovascular-renal axis and its interconnection with early and accelerated cognitive impairment in patients with CKD and the plausible role of exercise as a therapeutic modality. Understanding the cerebrovascular-renal axis pathophysiological link and its interconnection with physical function is important for clinicians in order to minimize the risk of loss of independence and improve quality of life in patients with CKD.

Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters change during sleep and wakefulness. This observation underscores an important, albeit incompletely understood, role for the central nervous system in the differential regulation of autonomic functions. Understanding sleep/wake-dependent sympathetic modulations provides insights into diseases involving autonomic dysfunction. The purpose of this review was to define the central nervous system nuclei regulating sleep and cardiovascular function and to identify reciprocal networks that may underlie autonomic symptoms of disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and narcolepsy/cataplexy. In this review, we examine the functional and anatomical significance of hypothalamic, pontine, and medullary networks on sleep, cardiovascular function, and breathing.

The success and failures of current therapies to reduce oxidative stress are discussed in terms of implications for nursing research on exogenous antioxidants, pharmacotherapy, and lifestyle change.

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