The One Easy Thing All People Should Do To Reduce Leg Pain In Peripheral Artery Disease Patients
Simple calf muscle stretching may reduce leg pain when walking and increase blood flow for people with peripheral artery disease, preliminary data suggest. In a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology/Peripheral Vascular Disease 2017 Scientific Sessions, participants who stretched daily for a month improved the ability of their calf arteries to relax and expand to let blood flow through after being momentarily held back with a blood pressure cuff, from an average 3.7 percent to 5.2 percent. After one month of daily calf stretches, participants also extended how far they could walk in six minutes — about half a city block farther, but still well below normal for people the same age. They also prolonged the distance they could walk before needing to stop and rest due to leg discomfort.
Also Read: Listen To Your Legs. Leg Pain May Be A Potential Sign Of Peripheral Artery Disease
Something as easy and simple like stretching can literally alter blood flow through your legs. Starting in a few weeks, Cardiovascular Labs of America will have a powerful structured program that will show you how to stretch, improve your balance, walk longer without pain and change your life for better. Imagine a way to walk longer, have less pain in your legs and prevent unnecessary amputation. Your insurance may participate in coverage.
Symptoms
Peripheral artery disease affects more than 18 million American adults and many are unaware they have it. 1 in 20 over the age 50 have it and for those with Diabetes and PAD are 10 times at risk for amputation. The most common symptom in the lower extremities is a painful muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves when walking, climbing stairs or exercising. The pain of PAD often goes away within a few minutes after exercise is stopped.
If blood flow is blocked due to plaque buildup, the muscles don’t get enough blood during exercise to meet the needs. The “crampy” pain, called intermittent claudication is the muscles warning the body that it isn’t receiving enough blood during exercise to meet the increased demand. Our goal at #CLA is to unblock the block.
Also Read: Leg Pain Can Mean Heart Danger