The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a structured home-based exercise and education program can improve quality of life and leg symptoms in adults with chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the veins in the legs do not return blood effectively toward the heart. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Does the exercise and education program improve quality of life related to chronic venous insufficiency after 8 weeks, and is any improvement maintained at Week 12? Does the program reduce leg symptoms after 8 weeks, and is any improvement maintained at Week 12? Researchers will compare participants who receive the structured exercise and education program in addition to standard medical care with participants who receive standard medical care and routine lifestyle advice without structured exercise training. A total of 120 participants will be assigned by chance to one of the two groups. Participants will: Continue the standard medical care recommended by their physicians. Attend assessments at the beginning of the study, at Week 8, and at Week 12. Complete questionnaires and tests assessing quality of life, leg symptoms, walking capacity, calf muscle endurance, physical activity, pain, heaviness, and lower-limb swelling. Participants assigned to the intervention group will also attend a 30- to 45-minute group education session, perform home-based exercises for 20 to 30 minutes per day on at least 5 days per week for 8 weeks, record their exercise sessions, and receive weekly follow-up by telephone or message.
Aged 18 years or older
Physician-confirmed diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency
CEAP clinical class C1-C4
Ability to walk independently
Active or healed venous ulcer (CEAP clinical class C5 or C6)
Acute deep vein thrombosis or active thromboembolic disease
Lower-extremity surgery within the previous 3 months
Severe peripheral arterial disease
Parallel
Structured Home-Based Exercise and Education Program
BehavioralThe intervention will be provided in addition to standard medical care. Participants will attend a 30- to 45-minute face-to-face group education and practical training session led by a physiotherapist. Education will cover chronic venous insufficiency, leg elevation, physical activity, weight management, lifestyle recommendations, and compression stocking use when prescribed. Participants will receive practical training in ankle pumping, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, heel raises, calf muscle activation, walking, and light stretching. Correct exercise performance will be checked individually. Participants will perform the program at home for 20 to 30 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week, for 8 weeks. Adherence and potential adverse symptoms will be monitored weekly by telephone call or text message.
Standard Care (in control arm)
Other interventionStandard care consists of physician-prescribed medical treatment and routine lifestyle recommendations for chronic venous insufficiency. Participants in the experimental arm will receive the structured home-based exercise and education program in addition to standard care.
Change in VEINES-QOL Score
VEINES-QOL is the 25-item quality-of-life summary score derived from the 26-item VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire. It assesses the impact of chronic venous disease on symptoms, daily activities, and psychological well-being during the previous 4 weeks. Scores will be transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better disease-specific quality of life. Change from baseline will be calculated at Weeks 8 and 12; positive change values indicate improvement.
Change in VEINES-Sym Score
VEINES-Sym is the 10-item symptom summary score derived from the 26-item VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire. It assesses the frequency and severity of venous disease-related symptoms during the previous 4 weeks. Scores will be transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating fewer or less severe symptoms. Change from baseline will be calculated at Weeks 8 and 12; positive change values indicate symptom improvement.
Change in Six-Minute Walk Distance
The Six-Minute Walk Test will be used to assess submaximal functional exercise capacity. Participants will be instructed to walk as far as possible for 6 minutes along a flat corridor of at least 30 meters. The total distance walked will be recorded in meters. Change from baseline will be calculated at Weeks 8 and 12; positive change values indicate improvement in functional exercise capacity.
Change in Heel Rise Test Repetitions
The Heel Rise Test will be used to assess calf muscle endurance and plantar flexor function. Participants will stand on one leg and perform as many heel-rise repetitions as possible according to a standardized protocol. The number of correctly completed repetitions will be recorded, and the same lower extremity will be assessed at each visit. Change from baseline will be calculated at Weeks 8 and 12; positive change values indicate improvement in calf muscle endurance.
Change in IPAQ-SF Total Physical Activity
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) is a 7-item self-report questionnaire that assesses physical activity performed during the previous 7 days. The reported frequency and duration of walking, moderate-intensity activity, and vigorous-intensity activity will be used to calculate total physical activity in metabolic equivalent minutes per week (MET-min/week) according to the IPAQ scoring protocol. Higher values indicate a greater level of physical activity. Change from baseline will be calculated at Weeks 8 and 12; positive change values indicate increased physical activity.
Change in Pain Intensity
Lower-extremity pain intensity will be assessed using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with anchors of 0 mm indicating no pain and 100 mm indicating the most severe pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Change from baseline will be evaluated at Weeks 8 and 12; a reduction in the score indicates improvement.
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