The benefits of completing a vascular rehabilitation program include:

• Improved quality of life
• Increased walking distance before experiencing symptoms
• Greater muscle strength and endurance
• Reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors
• More knowledge about your condition and overall health

• Sessions consist of 30-60 minutes of therapeutic exercise training, including treadmill walking, stationary cycling and other cardiovascular and strengthening activities, depending on your individual condition and tolerance to exercise
• One to three sessions per week for up to 12 weeks (36 sessions)
• Five minute warm up and cool down period
• Education on PAD, healthy lifestyle changes and risk factor reduction

Medicare and many other insurance companies can cover a large portion, if not all, of the costs of vascular rehabilitation. Insurance benefits will be verified before patients enter the program.

A doctor will need to diagnose you with PAD or intermittent claudication (IC) through evaluation and diagnostic tests before you can participate in vascular rehabilitation.

Symptoms of PAD can include:

• Painful and limited walking due to pain in the legs and calf muscles
• Poor tolerance to activities of daily living while standing

Contributing factors of PAD:

• Presence of other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or abnormal blood cholesterol levels
• Presence of heart disease, heart attack or stroke

A doctor’s referral is required for vascular rehabilitation. A vascular rehab representative will work with you and your physician’s office to get you started.