Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Functional Capacity and Muscle Oxygen Saturation in Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Pilot Study of a Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

The aim of the study was to verify the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on functional capacity (walking capacity; primary outcome) and calf muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) (secondary outcome) in symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. Twenty-nine patients, of both sexes, were randomized (1:1) in a double-blind manner for administration of placebo (PLA, n = 15) or creatine monohydrate (Cr, n = 14). The supplementation protocol consisted of 20 g/day for 1 week divided into four equal doses (loading phase), followed by single daily doses of 5 g in the subsequent 7 weeks (maintenance phase). Functional capacity (total walking distance) was assessed by the 6 min walk test, and calf muscle StO2 was assessed through near infrared spectroscopy. The measurements were collected before and after loading and after the maintenance phase. The level of significance was p < 0.05. No significant differences were found for function capacity (total walking distance (PLA: pre 389 ± 123 m vs. post loading 413 ± 131 m vs. post maintenance 382 ± 99 m; Cr: pre 373 ± 149 m vs. post loading 390 ± 115 m vs. post maintenance 369 ± 115 m, p = 0.170) and the calf muscle StO2 parameters (p > 0.05). Short- and long-term Cr supplementation does not influence functional capacity and calf muscle StO2 parameters in patients with symptomatic PAD.

Does Creatine Supplementation Affect Renal Function in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease? A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Case studies and reviews have shown that creatine supplementation can affect kidney function. The objective of this study is to verify the effects of 8 weeks of creatine supplementation on renal function (creatinine clearance: primary outcome) in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients, of both genders, were randomized (1:1) in a double-blind manner for administration of Placebo (PLA; n = 15) or creatine monohydrate (Cr; n = 14). The supplementation protocol consisted of 20 g/day for 1 week divided into 4 equal doses (loading phase), followed by single daily doses of 5 g in the subsequent 7 weeks (maintenance phase). Before and after the supplementation period, markers of renal function, serum creatinine, creatinine excretion rate, and creatinine clearance were evaluated. The Generalized Estimation Equation Model was used for comparison between groups. The level of significance was P < 0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between groups before and after the intervention for serum creatinine (Cr: pre 1.00 ± 0.15 mL/dL vs. post 1.07 ± 0.16 mL/dL; PLA: pre 1.30 ± 0.53 mL/dL vs. post 1.36 ± 0.47 mL/dL, P = 0.590), creatinine excretion rate (Cr: pre 81.73 ± 43.80 mg/dL vs. post 102.92 ± 59.57 mg/dL; PLA: pre 74.37 ± 38.90 mg/dL vs. post 86.22 ± 39.94 mg/dL, P = 0.560), or creatinine clearance (Cr; pre 108 ± 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. post 117 ± 52 mL/min/1.73 m2; PLA: pre 88 ± 49 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. post 82 ± 47 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.366). CONCLUSIONS: Eight weeks of creatine supplementation is safe and does not compromise the renal function of patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Acute Effects of T'ai Chi Chuan Exercise on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Peripheral Artery Disease Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute effect of a t'ai chi chuan session on blood pressure and heart rate in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). DESIGN: Randomized crossover intervention study. SETTING: Outpatient therapy center. PARTICIPANTS: Seven patients with PAD, aged 50-79 years, not using ß-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, or nondihidropiridinic vasodilators. INTERVENTION: T'ai chi chuan and control session (both sessions lasted 40 minutes). OUTCOME MEASURES: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, which were evaluated before and after the intervention (10, 30, and 50 minutes). RESULTS: T'ai chi chuan exercise acutely decreased systolic blood pressure at 30 minutes after exercise (p = 0.042) and increased diastolic blood pressure at 50 minutes after exercise (p = 0.041). Heart rate did not change after t'ai chi chuan exercise. CONCLUSION: T'ai chi chuan acutely decreases systolic blood pressure in patients with PAD.

Effects of walking and strength training on walking capacity in individuals with claudication: meta-analysis / Efeitos do treinamento de caminhada e forca na capacidade de caminhada de claudicantes: meta-analise

CONTEXT:Over the past few years, several clinical trials have been performed to analyze the effects of exercise training on walking ability in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). However, it remains unclear which type of physical exercise provides the maximum benefits in terms of walking ability. OBJECTIVE:To analyze, by means of a meta-analysis, the effects of walking and strength training on the walking capacity in patients with IC. METHODS:Papers analyzing the effects of walking and strength training programs in patients with IC were browsed on the Medline, Lilacs, and Cochrane databases. Randomized clinical trials scoring >4 on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and assessing claudication distance (CD) and total walking distance (TWD) were included in the review. RESULTS:Walking and strength training yielded increases in CD and TWD (P < 0.05). However, walking training yielded greater increases than strength training (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION:Walking and strength training improve walking capacity in patients with IC. However, greater improvements in TWD are obtained with walking training.

CONTEXTO:Ao longo dos últimos anos, diversos ensaios clínicos têm sido realizados sobre os efeitos do treinamento físico na capacidade de caminhada de pacientes com claudicação intermitente (CI). No entanto, ainda permanece incerto, qual modalidade de treinamento físico promove maiores aumentos na capacidade de caminhada dos pacientes. OBJETIVO: Analisar, por meio de meta-análise, os efeitos do treinamento de caminhada e de força na capacidade de locomoção de pacientes com CI. MÉTODOS:Foi realizada pesquisa bibliográfica de artigos que analisaram os efeitos do treinamento de caminhada e de força em pacientes com CI nas bases de dados Medline, Lilacs e Cochrane. Foram incluídos na revisão estudos clínicos randomizados com escore > 4 na escala de PEDro e que quantificaram a distância de claudicação (DC) e a distância total de caminhada (DTC). RESULTADOS:Os treinamentos de caminhada e de força promoveram aumentos na DC e na DTC (P < 0,05). No entanto, os aumentos obtidos com o treinamento de caminhada foram superiores aos obtidos com o treinamento de força (P = 0,02). CONCLUSÃO: Os treinamentos de caminhada e de força promovem aumento na capacidade de locomoção de pacientes com CI. No entanto, efeitos são mais acentuados com o treinamento de caminhada.