Have you experienced a squeezing, cramp-like pain that occurs when you walk, climb stairs, or apply pressure to your lower body? While it’s common in legs and calves, it may also radiate to the buttocks.
What’s stranger is that the ache magically disappears when you take a pause to rest. If you think that sounds relatable, your arteries are screaming for help!
Scroll down to understand more about claudication meaning, what causes it, and why it’s more than just “leg pain.”
What is Claudication?
Claudication, intermittent claudication (IC), is a type of skeletal muscle pain that occurs in the lower extremities.
It is caused by poor blood flow, especially during physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs, and affects 10% of people worldwide, according to NCBI.
The pain usually starts with movement and goes away with rest. IC is commonly localised to the thighs, hips, buttocks, and calf muscles. Medically, claudication occurs when your muscles don’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood during physical activity.
Intermittent claudication is a sign of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). PAD happens when fatty deposits (plaque) begin to narrow the arteries that carry blood to your legs, arms, or feet.
Now that the claudication meaning is clear, scroll down to take a look at its symptoms.
Claudication Symptoms
The most common claudication symptoms affect lower body areas with the following features that stop when you stop or take rest:
- Cramping or aching pain in the legs
- Muscle fatigue or heaviness
- Tingling or numbness
- Weakness while walking
- Pain that stops within minutes of resting
The pain most often affects:
- Calf muscles (claudication of calf muscles is the most common)
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Feet (known as foot claudication)
As circulation worsens, some people may experience pain even at rest, indicating a more serious stage.
Claudication Types: Not All Claudication Is the Same
There are mainly claudication types based on their underlying causes, and identifying them is a crucial step in treatment. Take a look:
1. Vascular Claudication
This is the most common type of claudication. It is a sign of peripheral artery disease according to major medical guidelines, caused by narrowed or blocked blood vessels.
2. Neurogenic Claudication
This is triggered by spinal nerve compression, rather than by restricted blood flow, as in classic PAD-related claudication. In this, the pain often reduces when you bend forward rather than stopping completely.
Why Only Calf Muscles Are Affected?
The calf muscles require a lot of oxygen-rich blood when you walk. If the arteries in your legs are narrowed, the muscles feel the reduced blood flow first. That’s the reason calf pain has become the hallmark sign doctors look for during diagnosis.
Pain usually starts after walking a fixed distance and repeats in a predictable pattern, a classic claudication clue.
What Causes Claudication?
The primary cause is atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up inside arteries. Certain factors can increase the claudication risk, such as:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Age over 50
Early diagnosis, followed by lifestyle changes, medications, and walking programs, can help reverse symptoms and improve blood flow. On the other hand, delaying management may complicate your health and lead to:
- Non-healing wounds
- Severe infections
- Tissue death (gangrene)
- In extreme cases, amputation
How to Treat Claudication?
The treatment of claudication includes simple steps you can do at home; however, in severe cases, doctors may recommend medication or a procedure.
The treatment plan typically involves these recommendations:
- Structured walking programs
- Quitting smoking
- Managing cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure
- Medications to improve blood flow
- In severe cases, angioplasty or surgery
Studies show that walking is the most effective way to significantly improve claudication symptoms within weeks. Get in touch with a physician for personalised guidance on walking therapy based on the severity of your symptoms.
To Sum Up
Understanding the meaning of claudication can save your legs and improve your quality of life. That leg pain during walking isn’t just muscle soreness. It’s a call to improve your circulatory health.
If your legs hurt when you walk and feel better when you stop, don’t brush it off. Listen to your body, seek medical advice, and take steps early.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Claudication
What is the main cause of claudication?
Claudication is primarily caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD), in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the leg muscles during activity.
How do I get rid of claudication in my legs?
You can improve claudication by walking regularly, quitting smoking, managing cholesterol and diabetes, and taking prescribed medicines to improve blood flow.
How do you fix claudication in your legs?
Treatment includes structured walking programs, medications, and, in severe cases, procedures like angioplasty or bypass surgery to restore blood flow.
Is walking good for claudication?
Yes, walking is one of the best treatments as it helps open blood vessels and improves circulation over time.
What are the two types of claudication?
The two main types are vascular claudication (caused by poor blood flow) and neurogenic claudication (caused by spinal nerve compression).
