Restoring Circulation, Movement, and Participation: Physical Therapy Management of Peripheral Artery Disease Across the Continuum of Functional Mobility

This textbook presents a movement-centered approach to peripheral artery disease, positioning rehabilitation as a primary driver of functional recovery, long-term health, and human performance. Written for clinicians, students, and scholars, it integrates vascular medicine with physical therapy, exercise science, sports medicine, and rehabilitation, guiding readers toward the central goal of return to regular activity and functional mobility. About This Book Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is commonly viewed as a vascular condition, yet its most significant impact is on walking ability, endurance, and independence. This text reframes PAD as a systemic disease with functional and performance consequences, placing physical therapy and rehabilitation at the core of management. Grounded in contemporary science and clinical evidence, the book connects vascular pathophysiology with biomechanics, neuromuscular control, exercise physiology, and behavior change. It demonstrates how structured rehabilitation can disrupt the cycle of ischemia, pain, inactivity, and deconditioning, transforming PAD into a manageable condition compatible with daily life, work, and sport. Scholastic and Academic Foundations Designed as a graduate-level and professional reference, the text supports education in physical therapy, kinesiology, exercise science, and rehabilitation medicine. Content progresses from foundational science to applied clinical reasoning and functional outcomes, emphasizing the integration of movement science, evidence-based practice, and real-world mobility. Scientific and Clinical Scope The book offers a comprehensive examination of PAD, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, exercise intolerance, diagnostic evaluation, and risk factor modification. Clinical decision-making is firmly evidence-based, with supervised exercise therapy highlighted as a cornerstone intervention that often rivals invasive treatments in improving walking capacity and quality of life. Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, and Performance Rehabilitation is presented as a primary intervention rather than an adjunct. The text details gait and endurance assessment, individualized exercise prescription, balance and strength training, and patient education. Sports medicine principles such as workload progression, recovery, and conditioning are applied to clinical populations, supporting return to recreational, occupational, and unrestricted activity. Technology and Outcome Measurement Modern assessment tools, including wearable activity monitors, functional performance measures, and patient-reported outcomes, are integrated throughout the text. These technologies strengthen the link between clinical evaluation, intervention, and meaningful functional outcomes. Progression Toward Functional Mobility A defining feature of this textbook is its progression from disease and impairment toward activity-level outcomes. Later chapters focus on walking tolerance, community mobility, long-term adherence to activity, and sustained functional independence, culminating in a comprehensive framework for lifelong mobility in individuals with PAD. Intended Audience and Educational Outcomes This book is designed for physical therapists, rehabilitation and sports medicine clinicians, physicians, graduate students, faculty, and researchers. Upon completion, readers will be able to relate PAD pathophysiology to movement dysfunction, differentiate PAD from other causes of leg pain, design and progress evidence-based exercise programs, measure functional outcomes, and guide patients toward safe, sustained activity and independence.