Passive Calf Stretching Therapy in Peripheral Artery Disease
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Passive calf muscle stretching device.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Peripheral Artery Disease, Claudication, Intermittent. Basic parameters: 40 years — 85 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
To Stretch, Not Strain: Impact of Passive Stretching on Calf Muscle and Gait Mechanics in PAD
Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of passive calf muscle stretching in patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The main question it aims to answer are: 1. To determine if daily calf muscle stretching at home improves calf muscle and vascular health. 2. To determine if daily calf muscle stretching at home improves walking performance. Participants will use inflatable ankle splints for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 4-weeks on both days and 4-weeks of no stretching.
Detailed description
Patients with peripheral artery disease will passively stretch their calf muscles using a stretch device on both feet for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks. Blood vessel health and size, length and function of the calf muscles and tendons and walking performance will be measured. Joint and foot movements as well as calf muscle oxygen levels will be measured during walking performance tests.
Interventions
- Device Passive calf muscle stretching device
Modified night splints will be used to passive stretch the calf muscle.
Primary outcome measures
- 6-minute walk test distance [Time frame: 6-12 minutes]
- Muscle to tendon ratio [Time frame: 45 minutes]
- Endothelial function [Time frame: 30 minutes]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Presence of PAD
- Stable condition (PAD symptoms) for at least 3 months
- Age 40-85
- Men and women who are not pregnant or nursing
Exclusion criteria
- Ischemic leg pain at rest; critical limb ischemia (ulceration or gangrene)
- Any condition other than PAD that limits the ability to walk
- Major surgery or lower extremity revascularization surgery in the past 6 months
- Myocardial infarction within past 6 months or unstable angina
- Severe lung disease (on supplemental oxygen or frequently use rescue inhalers)
- Participants with non-compressible vessels (ABI > 1.40)
- Habitual exercise (30 minutes of continuous activity on 3 or more days per week)
- Current tobacco smoker or use of nicotine-containing products
- Pregnant or nursing women
- History or ankle reconstruction or surgery Recent history (<1 year) of injuries to the ankle, Achilles tendon, or feet
- History of rheumatoid arthritis or other degenerative joint disease
- Major medical illness treatment during the prior 12 months
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Inability to walk on a treadmill at a slow pace (1.0 mile/hour)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Penn State University — University Park
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06041880 · 00022960