In June 2004, the Network for Exercise Therapy Parkstad (NETP) was implemented in Heerlen and its environs. The physiotherapists of this network provide community based SET according to the protocol of the Royal Dutch Society of Physiotherapy. The web based database, which is a part of the NETP, was retrospectively searched for patients who started SET within 2 months after a radiological or surgical intervention. Seventeen patients fulfilled these criteria, and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, there was a significant increase in both initial claudication distance (ICD) and absolute claudication distance (ACD).