Leg pain due to arterial disease can come on suddenly. Although medical treatment is available to control symptoms, the Medical News Today website states that the simplest answer lies within medically supervised exercise. Citing a February 2009 study published in the journal "Radiology," the website noted that by improving blood circulation, exercise may help patients avoid costly and invasive procedures.
Symptoms
Arterial disease that affects the legs is also known as peripheral arterial disease, or PAD. PAD symptoms include sudden cramping or numbness of your legs, leading to weakness in your leg muscles. According to the Vascular Disease Foundation, not all sufferers of PAD experience all symptoms, and some experience no symptoms whatsoever, leading to dangerous complications if the condition is left untreated. PAD occurs when blood flow is severely restricted within your main arteries, leaving your skin cool and pale at times. Another symptom is sores that do not heal as they should.
Exercise Technique
Exercise is one successful treatment option to open up closed arteries and restore proper blood flow. According to Medical News Today, exercise is being recommended as the first line of treatment when dealing with peripheral arterial disease, leaving conventional treatments as a last resort if exercise fails. Exercise for PAD is normally under medical supervision using a treadmill. The patient walks on the treadmill at 30-minute intervals two or three times a week to force blood-flow return.
Research
In the 2009 PAD exercise study, 151 patients were given either an exercise regimen or a procedure known as revascularization, which surgically opens blocked arteries. The study concluded that patients receiving revascularization had a more immediate improvement, but within 12 months, the exercise and revascularization groups both showed the same benefits. This conclusion led doctors to look toward exercise as a permanent solution to easing the discomfort experienced by PAD sufferers.
Risk Factors
The Vascular Disease Foundation lists several risk factors for PAD, including smoking, heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes. Individuals over the age of 70 are at the highest risk of developing arterial disease, with men being more susceptible to its development past age 50. Regular checkups with your doctor are an important step in the fight against peripheral arterial disease.
Considerations
In addition to recognizing the symptoms of arterial disease, patients should be aware of some secondary dangers. Individuals with PAD are at increased risk for early stroke or heart attack. To lower your risk of developing life-threatening conditions associated with peripheral arterial disease, it's important to begin exercise treatment as soon as possible.
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