Pain-free walking program for people with peripheral artery disease
Official title: The effects of a novel, non-ischemic and pain-free exercise intervention in peripheral artery disease
Funded at University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr · NIH-11178340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will compare a gentle, pain-free walking program to standard painful exercise to see if it helps older adults with peripheral artery disease walk farther and feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $461,805 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG071778-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with peripheral artery disease—especially older adults who develop leg pain or cramping when walking and who can attend supervised walking sessions—are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with very advanced critical limb ischemia, who cannot walk safely, or whose mobility limits are due to non-vascular causes are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to either a slow, non-ischemic (pain-free) walking program or the usual walking program that can cause leg pain. Both groups will take part in supervised walking sessions and have periodic tests of walking ability, questionnaires about quality of life, and blood and local vascular tests. The team will measure peak walking time, microvascular function in the legs, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress to understand how each program affects your blood vessels and walking. Researchers will look for links between changes in vascular measures and improvements in walking.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a less painful exercise option that improves walking ability and quality of life for people with PAD.
How similar studies have gone: Traditional supervised exercise that causes leg pain has helped many patients with PAD, but this specific pain-free, non-ischemic approach is relatively new and not yet widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gardner, Andrew W — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Gardner, Andrew W
Related research
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Low-dose colchicine for reducing vascular risk in people with PAD
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.