Muscle function in individuals with peripheral arterial obstructive disease: A systematic review

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to summarize the evidence regarding muscle strength and endurance in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) subjects. Systematic review of original articles in MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO databases, by the year 2009 was performed. Most of studies which compared strength of the leg or hip/thigh of PAD subjects and control subjects reported lower muscle strength in PAD subjects. Most of the studies which compared muscular strength between limbs in individuals with unilateral PAD (diseased and non-diseased limb) reported lower leg strength in the diseased limb. The studies which compared muscular endurance between individuals with PAD and control subjects reported lower muscular endurance in subjects with PAD. Moreover, the studies which compared muscular endurance between limbs in individuals with unilateral PAD reported lower muscular endurance in the affected limb. The summary of the evidences indicates that subjects with PAD had lower levels of strength and endurance than control subjects. Furthermore, even in patients who had unilateral PAD, muscle strength and endurance were reduced in the leg affected by the disease.