Exercise Therapy for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Supervised Exercise Therapy

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) vascular specialists offer the latest diagnostic and treatment options for peripheral artery disease, or PAD. As part of our comprehensive offerings, our team offers you supervised exercise therapy (SET). Medicare and most private insurance companies cover the cost of SET.

Goal of Peripheral Artery Disease Exercise Therapy

Supervised exercise therapy (SET) was developed to help people living with peripheral artery disease (PAD) manage leg pain using leg exercises. This leg pain is known as intermittent claudication.

What To Expect

During your first session, we evaluate you in our Vascular Medicine Clinic to plan your exercise program and ensure that you can safely participate in supervised exercise therapy (SET) exercises. Once we clear you to participate, the SET program consists of three exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks.

During each session, you'll walk intervals on a treadmill under the supervision of a specially trained exercise or physical therapist. You also may perform some specific leg exercises. If you're unable to use a treadmill due to orthopedic limitations, we offer alternative exercises, such as those involving your arms.

You may be able to come for an additional 12 weeks after you get a new referral from your doctor.

Supervised exercise therapy is offered in Boston, Chelsea, Chestnut Hill and Lexington. Patients can participate in exercise therapy at additional locations throughout Beth Israel Lahey Health. Talk to your care team for more information.