It's hard to live your best life when leg pain limits how far you can walk. At Val Verde Regional Medical Center (VVRMC), we offer supervised exercise therapy for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Our goal is to get you back on your feet and back to enjoying your best possible life.
Supervised exercise therapy takes place in our VVRMC Rehabilitation Department, where we also offer cardiac rehabilitation. Our program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Supervised exercise therapy restores mobility
PAD is a narrowing of blood vessels in the lower extremities that limits circulation to the legs and feet. One symptom of PAD is leg pain while walking, called intermittent claudication.
Exercise therapy helps boost your ability to walk, allowing you to get out and about and enjoy more of your daily activities. The change in walking ability is often quite dramatic—and so is the improvement in your quality of life.
VVRMC offers individualized therapy
Your exercise therapy program will typically last at least 12 weeks. During that time, you will work closely with a nurse who has special training in PAD therapy. Your doctor also will be involved in your care. If 12 weeks is not enough, it is possible to add more exercise sessions.
Your exercise therapy will be tailored to your needs. It will involve:
- Intermittent walking. Walking is one of the best exercises for PAD. At first, you might walk short distances. As your body responds to the treatment, you should be able to walk farther without pain.
- Heart-healthy education. Most people with PAD also have coronary artery disease (CAD), which raises the risk for heart attack and stroke. At VVRMC, supervised exercise therapy for PAD also includes education to help you protect your heart and arteries.