Lower limb movement variability in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Background Peripheral arterial disease is a chronic obstructive disease of the arteries of the lower limb caused by atherosclerosis. The resultant decrease in blood flow can result in symptoms of pain in the lower limb on exercise known as intermittent claudication. Exercise induced pain is experienced in the calves, thigh or buttocks restricting activities of daily living and thus reducing quality of life. Methods This study investigated lower limb movement variability in individuals with peripheral arterial disease-intermittent claudication (n = 28) compared to individuals without peripheral arterial disease-intermittent claudication (control, n = 25). A further aim was to examine the efficacy of various techniques used to describe single joint movement variability. All participants underwent two-dimensional angular kinematics analysis of the lower limb during normal walking. Single joint movement variability was measured using linear (spanning set and coefficient of variation) techniques. Between group differences were examined by one-way ANOVA. Findings The peripheral arterial disease-intermittent claudication participants displayed significantly higher levels of lower limb movement variability in all joints when assessed using the coefficient of variation technique. There were no significant between group differences using the spanning set technique. Interpretation Individuals with peripheral arterial disease-intermittent claudication have higher levels of lower limb movement variability and reduced walking speed compared to healthy age and mass matched controls. This variability may be an adaptation to the gradual onset of ischaemic pain in this population.