Study on the safety and effectiveness of an exercise prescription for patients with diabetic foot ulcer and peripheral arterial disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of exercise prescription on foot perfusion and ulcer healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) accompanied with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).Methods Sixty patients with DFU and PAD were divided into exercise group and control group.The patients in the exercise group took exercise therapy training,ensuring that they could follow the exercise prescription.The patients in the control group had no exercise requirements.After the treatment for 12 weeks,ankle brachial index (ABI),transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2),skin temperature,body mass index (BMI),HbA1C,and the ulcer healing rate in the two groups were compared,the satisfaction and compliance in the exercise group were evaluated,and the adverse events of the treatment were recorded.Results After the treatment for 12 weeks,the ABI,TcPO2,and foot skin temperature in the two groups increased and HbA1C decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).TcPO2 increased 5.25 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133kPa),skin temperature increased 0.45℃,and BMI decreased 0.69 kg/m2 in the exercise group,while TcPO2 increased 2.59 mm Hg,skin temperature increased 0.28℃,and BMI increased 0.02 kg/m2 in the control group,showing significant differences in the three index changes between two groups (P＜0.01).The healing rate in the exercise group was higher than that in the control group (53.6％ vs 25.9％,P ＜0.05).The patients'compliance and satisfaction to the exercise therapy were 90％ and 94％,respectively.The incidence of adverse events in the exercise group had no causal relationship with the exercise prescription.Conclusion The exercise prescription in the study can improve the foot perfusion,and promote ulcer healing.It has the advantage of high safety,patients'compliance and satisfaction. Key words: Diabetic foot ulcer; Peripheral arterial disease; Ankle brachial index; Transcutaneous oxygen tension; Exercise prescription