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Doctors diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in 1 in every:
PAD is a vascular disease, caused by a gradual build-up of plaque within the leg arteries.
It may cause disabling symptoms, such as:
The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute's Cardiac Rehab centers offer a specially designed exercise program tailored to people with PAD.
SET can help people suffering from PAD pain.
The exercise therapy targets the muscles that hurt when you walk, such as the:
SET helps improve circulation and available metabolites that can reduce or get rid of pain while walking.
The program pairs moderate intensity exercise training with lifestyle changes, provided by a professional staff of:
Most insurance plans cover supervised exercise therapy.
The goals of SET for people with PAD are to:
These programs also provide:
SET gives the best results when the:
To take part in SET, you must:
Symptoms may include discomfort (cramping, aching, pain) in the calves, thighs, or hips while walking that goes away when you stop walking.
If you have these symptoms, speak with your doctor. He or she can diagnose PAD with a physical exam and pain-free arterial ultrasound scan, often in the office.
At your first session, our team will:
During your SET sessions, you will work with staff to engage in a series of walking exercises at a moderate intensity.
Between walking sessions, you'll receive lifestyle health coaching.
We offer SET at our Cardiac Rehab centers.
» Find a supervised exercise therapy program at a Cardiac Rehab location near you.
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