SURGEONS from the Alexandra Hospital will be taking part in a research project costing about £500,000.
The money has come from a national research unit and will be spent investigating alternative ways to treat blood circulation problems to avoid operations.
The research is being spearheaded by Professor Brian McCloskey, of the health authority, University College Worcester, and surgeons from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
A condition called intermittent claudication, which causes people with very bad circulation in their legs to have pain when they walk, is being looked at.
Prof McCloskey said: "When it is bad, the treatment is an operation to unblock the artery. We have suspected for some time that a good exercise programme might work just as well and avoid the need for an operation but we haven't had enough proof.
"This research is designed to look at that and if it is successful, we'll be able to recommend the exercise programme across the NHS."
The research will take four years and patients will be recruited next year.
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