(January 13, 2009 - Insidermedicine) A supervised treadmill exercise program can improve physical functioning and quality of life in those with peripheral artery disease, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here is some information on PAD:

•    It is a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries of the extremities.

•    Some individuals with PAD suffer from intermittent claudication, or pain in the legs that is usually triggered by exercise.

•    While claudication can make exercise painful, exercise is known to be an important part of treatment.

Researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine randomly assigned over 150 people suffering from PAD with or without intermittent claudication to six months of supervised treadmill exercise or lower extremity resistance training, or to a control group.

After six months, those in the treadmill group had greater improvements in measurements of the circulation in their legs, the distance and duration of time they could walk, and other measures of physical functioning than those in the control group. While those in the resistance training group also experienced improvements in these areas, they were generally greater among those in the treadmill group.

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Mary McDermott, the principal investigator of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today's research suggests that those with PAD, with or without intermittent claudication, could benefit from a supervised treadmill exercise program.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.