The Medical City (TMC) Cardiovascular Center has launched its Vascular Rehabilitation Program, a customized program of supervised exercise and education for patients who have difficulty walking because of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).

The program aims to improve vascular health, slow down progression of PAD and provide an option for patients suffering from leg pains. PAD refers to the narrowing of the arteries of the legs due to atherosclerosis or build-up of fat and cholesterol deposits called “plaques” that harden over time. The most common symptom of PAD is leg pain, discomfort or cramping that develops with activity, is relieved with rest, and recurs upon resuming activity.

“The Medical City’s Vascular Rehabilitation Program focuses on improving walking distance and mobility. It includes an education program on healthy diet and lifestyle thereby reducing overall cardiovascular risk and improving individual level of fitness,” says Dr. Maria Teresa B. Abola, Vascular Rehabilitation head.
The other benefits of the vascular rehab program include the improvement in quality of life and stress management, increase in muscular endurance and strength, reduced risk of PAD progression and reduction in hospitalizations.

The program provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach to bring the patient back to walking pain free. The team includes vascular specialists, registered nurses, exercise physiologists, and dieticians. Together with the primary physician, the vascular rehab team will design a personalized exercise and education program for each patient to help him achieve his goal of walking again without pain or discomfort.

The exercise program is performed three times a week, usually for 12 to 24 weeks, lasting for one hour per session under the supervision of a physician, nurse and physical therapist. The initial exercise training intensity is established using a graded treadmill test to determine the walking exercise level that brings on the leg pain. Progression of the exercise training intensity is initiated at the beginning of the next and succeeding sessions. During each session, a claudication pain scale is used to monitor symptomatic improvements in exercise performance and as guide in increasing exercise intensity.

Candidates for vascular rehabilitation include individuals who have PAD, those with intermittent claudication or leg discomfort when walking, those who have undergone arterial revascularization procedures such as surgery, angioplasty or stenting, and those with high risk factors associated with vascular disease (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and tobacco use).

For more information about VRP, please call the Cardiovascular Center at tel. no. 988-1000 or 988-7000 ext. 6314.