OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of upper- and lower-limb aerobic exercise training on disease-specific functional status and generic health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with intermittent claudication. METHODS: The study recruited 104 patients (mean age 68 years; range 50 to 85) from the Sheffield Vascular Institute. Patients were randomly allocated to groups that received upper-limb (ULG) or lower-limb (LLG) aerobic exercise training, or to a nonexercise control group. Exercise was performed twice weekly for 24 weeks at equivalent limb-specific relative exercise intensities. Main outcome measures were scores on the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) for disease-specific functional status, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form version 2 (SF-36v2), and European Quality of Life visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) for health-related QOL. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, and at 6, 24, 48, and 72 weeks. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, improvements in the perceived severity of claudication (p = 0.023) and stair climbing ability (p = 0.011) versus controls were observed in the ULG, and an improvement in the general health domain of the SF-36v2 versus controls was observed in the LLG (p = 0.010). After 24 weeks, all four WIQ domains were improved in the ULG versus controls (p <= 0.05), and three of the four WIQ domains were improved in the LLG (p < 0.05). After 24 to 72 weeks of follow-up, more consistent changes in generic health-related QOL domains were apparent in the ULG. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the use of alternative, relatively pain-free forms of exercise in the clinical management of patients with intermittent claudication.

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