Simple arm exercises could help beat peripheral vascular disease - a blood circulation problem that causes severe leg pain, says a study
Simple arm exercises could help beat peripheral vascular disease - a blood circulation problem that causes severe leg pain, says a study .
John Saxton and other researchers from Sheffield Hallam University's centre for sport and exercise science studied more than 100 patients aged between 50 and 85 with peripheral vascular disease (PVD).The scientists found that the cardiovascular function and walking ability of the patients improved after they took part in arm exercises, the science portal News-Medial reported.
This is the first large-scale trial of its kind to show that a regular workout of the upper body can help ease the chronic leg pain associated with PVD.
Peripheral vascular disease occurs when the arteries narrow or become blocked with fatty material. The artery can become so narrow that it cannot deliver enough oxygen-containing blood to the legs during walking exercise.
This results in leg pain known as intermittent claudication and forces the person to stop and rest until it passes. Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and a poor diet are high risk factors in this disease.
The scientists said simple arm exercises could help beat a crippling leg condition that affects one in 20 people over the age of 55 in Britain.
(Source: IANS News)
