Exercise-based Rehabilitation Improves Hemodynamic Responses after Lower Limb Arterial Blood Flow Surgery

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise rehabilitation programmed (ERP) on hemodynamic responses and functional status in patients after lower limb bypass surgery.
Place and Duration of the Study: The study included 70 patients, who were treated in the Hospital Lithuanian University of Health Sciences between the period of May 2012 and June 2013.
Methodology: Forty seven patients were selected for this study. They were allocated to two groups. While the rehabilitation group (n=25, mean age: 68.6±1.6 years) completed ERP for six months, the control group (n=22, mean age: 68.8±2.4 years) did not have any supervised physical activity during this period. Patients were assessed at baseline and 6 months after intervention. Walking distances were evaluated by a 6-minute walking test (6 MWT), hemodynamic response was measured by ankle-brachial indices (ABI).
Results: As a result of ERP, a significant improvement was observed in the total distance walked in the rehabilitation group after 6 months (P=.01) compared to the control group. Also a significant progression was observed in pain-free walking (PFW) distance in the rehabilitation group (P=.02) compared to the control group after 6 months. Furthermore, ERP significant improved hemodynamic responses such as heart rate (P=.00), systolic (P=.008) and diastolic blood pressure (P=.007).
Conclusion: ERP is an effective therapy to significantly improve functional capacity and hemodynamic response in patients after lower limb bypass surgery.