PAD Structured Exercise Program

Exercise for Peripheral Artery Disease Pain

If you have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD), such as varicose veins, you may feel cramping, pain or tightness in your calf muscle when you walk even a short distance. That pain is intermittent claudication and it can be discouraging. WakeMed Rehabilitation’s Peripheral Artery Disease Structured Exercise Therapy (PAD SET) can help improve your endurance, pain and the distance you can walk.

PAD & Intermittent Claudication

Peripheral arteries are the vessels that deliver blood to your legs, arms, stomach and head. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the narrowing of these arteries caused by a buildup of plaque on artery walls. PAD is very common in the legs. Varicose veins are a type of PAD.

Claudication or intermittent claudication is the pain, fatigue, cramping or tightness you feel in your calf as a result of your peripheral artery disease. Claudication results from lack of blood flow to the muscles during activity, such as walking or climbing stairs. The pain usually passes when you stop moving, only to resume when you start walking again.

Managing PAD Pain with Structured Exercise Therapy

Walking and exercise help to relieve your pain. You just need to know HOW to build up your endurance. WakeMed Rehab’s PAD SET program can help by improving:

• Your pain & pain tolerance
• How far you can walk
• Your strength
• Your circulation

PAD SET Information

• PAD SET is held Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:30 am at WakeMed Healthworks on the WakeMed Raleigh Campus, 3000 New Bern Avenue.
• 3 sessions a week for 12 weeks
• Come dressed to exercise!
• Currently, Medicare and Medicare MAPS cover PAD SET.

Access to PAD SET

You will need a referral from your physician to participate in PAD SET. You and your health care provider are welcome to call 919-350-8786, option 2, for additional information and to register.