Effect of Low-Intensity vs High-Intensity Walking Exercise on Walk Distance in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

In this study, patients were randomized according to pain levels during exercise into a low-intensity or a high-intensity walking exercise group or a nonexercise control group. Although pain can indirectly represent stress levels during exercise, it is not a surrogate marker for well-established indicators of exercise intensity, such as heart rate, oxygen consumption, and rating of perceived exertion. Using these parameters, the American College of Sports Medicine classifies relative exercise intensity as either light, moderate, or vigorous.