Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCopingPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Coping

Prevention

This article provides an overview of claudication, including its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

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Woman in pain sitting on a bench holding her leg

What Are the Symptoms of Claudication?

These symptoms involve one or more of the major muscle groups of the legs—the calves, the thighs, the buttocks, or the feet. Most often affecting the legs, the most prominent signs of it are:

Claudication pain may feel different depending on the location.The calf is the most common location of symptoms, often feeling like a cramp that comes on gradually. In the buttocks, it often is an aching pain, and you may have weakness when climbing stairs.

Because claudication most commonly arises due to PAD, it may appear alongside other symptoms of the condition, which can include:

Claudication in the ArmsThough claudication is often seen in the legs, PAD can also affect the arms. Approximately 10% of people with PAD experience pain, cramping, numbness, and muscle weakness in the upper limbs.

Claudication in the Arms

Though claudication is often seen in the legs, PAD can also affect the arms. Approximately 10% of people with PAD experience pain, cramping, numbness, and muscle weakness in the upper limbs.

What Causes Claudication?

Insufficient blood flow to the limbs causes claudication. A characteristic feature of PAD isatherosclerosis, which causes the arteries to narrow or block due to fatty plaque buildup, leading to poor blood flow.

Atherosclerosis With Thrombosis

Atherosclerosis can arise due to several factors, which serve as risk factors for claudication. These include:

When to See a Healthcare Provider for ClaudicationClaudication is a symptom of conditions that significantly increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, skin ulcers, gangrene, and amputation.See a healthcare provider when you begin to notice signs of claudication. A medical professional will be able to diagnose and address the underlying condition.If you begin to feel the pain even at rest, this is a sign the blockage in the artery has become worse. See a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

When to See a Healthcare Provider for Claudication

Claudication is a symptom of conditions that significantly increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, skin ulcers, gangrene, and amputation.See a healthcare provider when you begin to notice signs of claudication. A medical professional will be able to diagnose and address the underlying condition.If you begin to feel the pain even at rest, this is a sign the blockage in the artery has become worse. See a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Claudication is a symptom of conditions that significantly increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, skin ulcers, gangrene, and amputation.See a healthcare provider when you begin to notice signs of claudication. A medical professional will be able to diagnose and address the underlying condition.

If you begin to feel the pain even at rest, this is a sign the blockage in the artery has become worse. See a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

In addition, your healthcare provider will perform a physical evaluation, which involves checking the pulse in your legs or arms, listening for abnormal blood flow with a stethoscope, and visually examining wounds, ulcers, or bruises on the extremities.

Tests and Procedures

Your provider may call for further tests to confirm suspected cases or assess claudication severity. These tests include:

Angiography

A healthcare provider may call forangiographyto assess arterial blood flow. In these tests, your provider will inject a contrast dye into your arteries and use imaging to look for blockages. There are three types of angiography, including the following:

What Is the Best Treatment for Claudication?

Treatments for claudication are typically tailored to the individual and include lifestyle changes, medications, and other therapies; all play an essential role. The main treatment goals are to improve symptoms and prevent artery disease from getting worse or more dangerous.

The primary step in treating claudication involves managing the condition’s risk factors, including:

Walking to Improve ClaudicationA walking program can improve claudication symptoms, reducing pain and building endurance. You can use a treadmill or walk outdoors or indoors.Walk until your pain is moderate, aiming for a pace or incline where this level of pain is felt after five to seven minutes of walking. Rest until it subsides, and start walking again. Aim for 30 minutes a day of brisk exercise.

Walking to Improve Claudication

A walking program can improve claudication symptoms, reducing pain and building endurance. You can use a treadmill or walk outdoors or indoors.Walk until your pain is moderate, aiming for a pace or incline where this level of pain is felt after five to seven minutes of walking. Rest until it subsides, and start walking again. Aim for 30 minutes a day of brisk exercise.

A walking program can improve claudication symptoms, reducing pain and building endurance. You can use a treadmill or walk outdoors or indoors.

Walk until your pain is moderate, aiming for a pace or incline where this level of pain is felt after five to seven minutes of walking. Rest until it subsides, and start walking again. Aim for 30 minutes a day of brisk exercise.

The following two drugs have been approved for the treatment of claudication symptoms, although they do not cure the condition:

In addition, your provider may prescribe certain medications to lower blood pressure, ease symptoms, and manage associated conditions. Examples include:

Your provider may also look at the medications you are taking. Some, such asbeta-blockers, might not be used due to the presumed effects they can have on peripheral circulation.

In severe PAD cases, people may need a medical procedure to clear blocked or severely impacted arteries.Angioplastyis a minimally invasive procedure involving placing a specialized balloon into a diseased artery, inflating it, and placing astentto keep the artery clear.

Claudication (and the associated PAD) is a chronic condition that requires consistent management. However, you can live well with the disease with proper and timely care. Tips for doing so include:

How Can You Prevent Claudication?

While some risk factors for PAD and claudication are not under your control, you can significantly reduce your risks in many ways. These tactics will also reduce your risk of many chronic conditions and serious events like a heart attack or stroke:

Summary

You can manage claudication with timely treatment and lifestyle modifications. This may reduce your pain and other symptoms of claudication as well as risks of serious complications.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ratchford EV.Medical management of claudication.J Vascular Surg. 2017;66(1):275-280. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2017.02.040American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Claudication.Harwood AE, Pymer S, Ingle L, et al.Exercise training for intermittent claudication: a narrative review and summary of guidelines for practitioners.BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020;6(1):e000897. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000897UpToDate.Patient education: peripheral artery disease and claudication (beyond the basics).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease (PAD).American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?Mount Sinai.Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: diagnosis.MedlinePlus.Pentoxifylline.MedlinePlus.Cilostazol.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: treatment.Mirault T, Galloula A, Cambou JP.Impact of beta blockers on general and local outcome in patients hospitalized for lower extremity peripheral artery disease: the COPART Registry.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(5):e5916. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000005916

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ratchford EV.Medical management of claudication.J Vascular Surg. 2017;66(1):275-280. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2017.02.040American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Claudication.Harwood AE, Pymer S, Ingle L, et al.Exercise training for intermittent claudication: a narrative review and summary of guidelines for practitioners.BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020;6(1):e000897. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000897UpToDate.Patient education: peripheral artery disease and claudication (beyond the basics).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease (PAD).American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?Mount Sinai.Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: diagnosis.MedlinePlus.Pentoxifylline.MedlinePlus.Cilostazol.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: treatment.Mirault T, Galloula A, Cambou JP.Impact of beta blockers on general and local outcome in patients hospitalized for lower extremity peripheral artery disease: the COPART Registry.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(5):e5916. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000005916

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Ratchford EV.Medical management of claudication.J Vascular Surg. 2017;66(1):275-280. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2017.02.040American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Claudication.Harwood AE, Pymer S, Ingle L, et al.Exercise training for intermittent claudication: a narrative review and summary of guidelines for practitioners.BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020;6(1):e000897. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000897UpToDate.Patient education: peripheral artery disease and claudication (beyond the basics).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease (PAD).American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?Mount Sinai.Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: diagnosis.MedlinePlus.Pentoxifylline.MedlinePlus.Cilostazol.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: treatment.Mirault T, Galloula A, Cambou JP.Impact of beta blockers on general and local outcome in patients hospitalized for lower extremity peripheral artery disease: the COPART Registry.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(5):e5916. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000005916

Ratchford EV.Medical management of claudication.J Vascular Surg. 2017;66(1):275-280. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2017.02.040

American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Claudication.

Harwood AE, Pymer S, Ingle L, et al.Exercise training for intermittent claudication: a narrative review and summary of guidelines for practitioners.BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020;6(1):e000897. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000897

UpToDate.Patient education: peripheral artery disease and claudication (beyond the basics).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?

Mount Sinai.Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: diagnosis.

MedlinePlus.Pentoxifylline.

MedlinePlus.Cilostazol.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Peripheral artery disease: treatment.

Mirault T, Galloula A, Cambou JP.Impact of beta blockers on general and local outcome in patients hospitalized for lower extremity peripheral artery disease: the COPART Registry.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(5):e5916. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000005916

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