Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a form of atherosclerosis, or hardening or narrowing of the arteries outside the heart, such as those supplying blood to the legs. PAD can occur in any artery outside the heart, but it is a common cause of leg pain that occurs during physical activity. The symptoms of PAD tend to grow more severe over time.

Prior research had indicated that a doctor-supervised walking program slowed the progression of PAD and improved patients' ability to walk. However, many patients do not have access to a supervised walking program, because of cost or distance.

Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have released a study showing that walking just three times a week can significantly help individuals with PAD. Patients who participated in the study had a smaller average annual decline in walking distance and speed than those who walked one to two times per week.

The study involved 417 men and women with PAD who were assessed on physical abilities such as walking, balance and coordination. Researchers evaluated patients' physical ability by measuring how far patients could walk in six minutes and their ability to rise from a chair unassisted. They also observed how well patients maintained their balance in a standing position and how quickly they could walk over a short distance.

Research showed that even unsupervised walking at home was effective at slowing the progression of PAD symptoms. Individuals who had the worst PAD symptoms at the start of the study tended to benefit the most from a regular self-directed walking program.

The research also showed that only a small number of African-American study participants used walking as an exercise three or more times a week. Recent research has shown that PAD is more prevalent in African-Americans than in white patients.

"Data from the study suggest that doctors should take steps to encourage African-American individuals to increase their frequency of walking exercise," explained Mary McGrae McDermott, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the Feinberg School and lead author of the study, in a recent press release.

The study was published in the January 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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