BACKGROUND: This was a randomized clinical trial to determine whether Nordic pole walking (NPW) is more effective in improving walking distance than a standard home exercise programme (HEP) in patients with intermittent claudication. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with stable claudication were allocated randomly to a standard HEP or NPW group, and asked to complete three 30-min walks per week for 12 weeks. Claudication distance (CD) and maximum walking distance (MWD) were measured at 0 (baseline), 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Patients in the NPW group were tested with (NPW+) and without (NPW-) poles. RESULTS: For NPW+, CD increased immediately from a median (range) of 124 (71 to 248) m to 148 (116 to 426) m, and MWD from 248 (149 to 900) to 389 (194 to 1,099) m (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001 respectively). By 12 weeks, CD had further increased to 199 (118 to 550) m and MWD had more than doubled to 538 (250 to 1,750) m (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001). For NPW-, CD at 12 weeks had increased significantly to 151 (100 to 328) m and MWD to 400 (200 to 900) m (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006 respectively). At 12 weeks the changes in the standard HEP group were not significant, despite excellent compliance: CD from 107 (56 to 332) to 153 (59 to 321) m and MWD from 355 (92 to 600) to 334 (149 to 874) m (p = 0.030 and p = 0.260 respectively). CONCLUSION: A 12-week exercise programme using Nordic poles significantly improved walking distance in claudicants compared with a standard HEP. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN78168304 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).

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