Klonizakis, M., Tew, G.A., Gumber, A. et al. (4 more authors) (2018) Supervised exercise training as an adjunct therapy for venous leg ulcers: a randomized controlled feasibility trial. British Journal of Dermatology, 178 (5). pp. 1072-1082. ISSN 0007-0963
Abstract
Background Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are typically painful and heal slowly. Compression therapy offers high healing rates; however, improvements are not usually sustained. Exercise is a low‐cost, low‐risk and effective strategy for improving physical and mental health. Little is known about the feasibility and efficacy of supervised exercise training used in combination with compression therapy patients with VLUs.
Objectives To assess the feasibility of a 12‐week supervised exercise programme as an adjunct therapy to compression in patients with VLUs.
Methods This was a two‐centre, two‐arm, parallel‐group, randomized feasibility trial. Thirty‐nine patients with venous ulcers were recruited and randomized 1 : 1 either to exercise (three sessions weekly) plus compression therapy or compression only. Progress/success criteria included exercise attendance rate, loss to follow‐up and patient preference. Baseline assessments were repeated at 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year, with healing rate and time, ulcer recurrence and infection incidents documented. Intervention and healthcare utilization costs were calculated. Qualitative data were collected to assess participants’ experiences.
Results Seventy‐two per cent of the exercise group participants attended all scheduled exercise sessions. No serious adverse events and only two exercise‐related adverse events (both increased ulcer discharge) were reported. Loss to follow‐up was 5%. At 12 months, median ulcer healing time was lower in the exercise group (13 vs. 34·7 weeks). Mean National Health Service costs were £813·27 for the exercise and £2298·57 for the control group.
Conclusions The feasibility and acceptability of both the supervised exercise programme in conjunction with compression therapy and the study procedures is supported.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 The Authors. British Journal of Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. |
Keywords: | Aged; Body Mass Index; Combined Modality Therapy; Compression Bandages; Exercise Therapy; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Varicose Ulcer; Wound Healing |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Health and Related Research (Sheffield) > ScHARR - Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 14 May 2020 11:53 |
Last Modified: | 14 May 2020 14:11 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/bjd.16089 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:160556 |