Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Exercise Therapy For Venous Leg Ulcer Healing and Recurrence

Abstract

Objective: National guidelines recommend regular exercise for individuals with venous leg ulceration,1 yet data for the effect of exercise on ulcer healing and recurrence are sparse. This study aimed to quantify the evidence for exercise in venous ulcer healing with respect to the primary outcomes of proportion of healed ulcers and rate of ulcer recurrence. Secondary outcomes were improvement in ulcer symptoms, ulcer healing time, quality of life, compliance, and reported adverse events.