Exercise therapy for claudication: Should home-based exercise therapy be prescribed in clinical practice?

• Four studies examining a home-based exercise program were reviewed.
• The effects of a home-based exercise program on walking distance and quality of life was positive.
• A home-based exercise program is a viable alternative to a supervised exercise program.

Peripheral artery disease is a cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. The literature suggests evidence that an exercise program can be beneficial in the treatment of patients with claudication. Supervised exercise therapy is well documented in the literature, and national guidelines recommend it as an initial conservative management. When a supervised exercise program is unavailable or not covered by insurance, an alternative to supervised exercise is vital. The purpose of this review is to examine the evidence regarding the efficacy of a home-based exercise program. Four studies were included in this review, and although the evidence supporting a home-based exercise program is limited in the literature, the findings indicate that a home-based exercise program increases claudication onset time, resulting in greater mobility and improvement in the patient's quality of life.