Overview
Claudication is pain from too little blood flow to the muscles during exercise. Often, the pain happens in the legs after walking at a certain speed and for a certain amount of time. But it depends on how much blood flow is blocked.
Claudication is a symptom, not a specific disease or condition. It's most often related to narrowed arteries in the legs or arms, a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD).
The condition also is called intermittent claudication. Intermittent means not constant. So the pain from claudication might come and go. It may begin during exercise and get better with rest. But as claudication gets worse, the pain may happen during rest and become constant.
The goal of treatment is to lower the risk of blood vessel damage, lessen pain, boost movement and prevent tissue damage.
Claudication
Claudication is pain in the legs or arms that occurs during exercise. The pain is caused by too little blood flow to the legs or arms. Claudication is usually a symptom of narrowed arteries in the legs and arms, a condition called peripheral artery disease. A buildup of fatty deposits, called plaque, often causes it.
Symptoms
The main symptom of claudication is muscle pain or cramping in the legs or arms that starts during exercise and usually ends with rest.
Your muscles may feel tired or achy when you use them. You might have pain in the following body areas:
- Back of the lower leg, called the calf.
- Thigh.
- Buttock.
- Feet.
Some people with claudication have pain in the shoulders, biceps and forearms.
The pain may get worse over time. You may even start to feel pain at rest.
If blood flow is badly reduced or blocked, you might have other symptoms such as:
- Cool skin.
- Severe pain that doesn't go away.
- Numbness in an arm or leg.
- Changes in skin color.
- Sores that don't heal.
When to see a doctor
Talk to a member of your care team if you have pain in your legs or arms when you exercise. Claudication can lead to a cycle that worsens heart and blood vessel health. For example, pain may make it hard or impossible to exercise. A lack of exercise is bad for your overall health.
Many things can cause leg and arm pain during exercise. It's important to have a full health checkup and proper tests to look for the cause.
Causes
Claudication is most often a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). The peripheral arteries are the large vessels that bring blood to the legs and arms. PAD is usually caused by a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls, a condition called atherosclerosis.
Peripheral artery disease limits the flow of blood in an arm or leg. When you're resting, the reduced blood flow is often enough. But when you're active, the muscles don't get enough blood to meet demand.
Development of atherosclerosis
If there's too much cholesterol in the blood, the cholesterol and other substances may form deposits called plaque. Plaque can cause an artery to become narrowed or blocked. If a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form. Plaque and blood clots can reduce blood flow through an artery.
Risk factors
Possible risk factors for claudication and conditions that cause it include:
- A family history of atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease or claudication.
- Age older than 50 years if you also smoke or have diabetes.
- Age older than 70 years.
- Chronic kidney disease.
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Obesity, which is a body mass index (BMI) over 30.
- Smoking.
Complications
Claudication is a warning symptom of significant atherosclerosis, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. Complications may include:
- Skin sores that don't heal.
- Death of muscle and skin tissues, also called gangrene.
- Need to remove an arm or leg, called amputation.
Prevention
Following a heart-healthy lifestyle may help prevent claudication. Your care team may recommend the following changes to improve heart and blood vessel health:
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
- Get regular exercise.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Manage cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.
- Don't smoke.
- Get enough sleep.
- Reduce stress.
- Limit or do not drink alcohol.
