Although SE showed more improvement in PWT,
considered the standard end point for claudication research,29
the greatest improvements in self-reported QOL were observed
in the ST cohort. This study was not designed to
determine the cause of differential objective PWT, and
subjective QOL outcomes from patients provided these distinct
strategies of care. Superior treadmill-defined benefits
from the SE group could be derived from the “specificity-oftraining”
effect or from improved cardiorespiratory fitness
because the use of SE is known to be associated with
physiological improvement in systemic and limb function.
This study also did not evaluate the exact mechanism(s) by
which SE improved exercise performance, which can include
multiple physiological adaptive effects and treadmill use
familiarity. Eighteen-month results, obtained a year after
completion of treadmill training, should provide valuable
additional information