Leg Heat Therapy in Elderly Individuals

This pilot randomized, sham-controlled trial aimed to establish the feasibility and safety of home-based leg HT in community-dwelling older adults and inform the design of a future, larger study. Participants were randomized to either an HT or a sham group and were asked to apply the treatment daily for 90 min over 12 consecutive weeks. The primary outcomes were compliance with the HT regimen, measured by a hidden timer, completion rates, and device safety. The secondary goals were to examine the effects of leg HT on 6-min walk distance, sit-to-stand performance, blood pressure, quality of life, and the morphology and strength of the calf muscles, as assessed using combined T1-weighted and mDixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Building upon previous findings in young individuals, preclinical models of PAD, and older individuals with PAD, we hypothesized that older adults treated with leg HT for 12 weeks would display improved walking performance, increased calf strength, and reduced intramuscular fat when compared to sham-treated individuals.