Claudication – Symptoms and Causes

ByJanis Updated

Overview

Claudication is pain that happens when muscles don’t get enough blood during activity. This usually affects the legs after walking for a certain time or distance. The pain typically stops when resting.

This problem isn’t always constant. It comes and goes based on activity level. However, as the condition gets worse, some people may feel pain even while resting.

Claudication is actually a symptom of another health issue, most commonly peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD occurs when arteries in the limbs become narrow, reducing blood flow to those areas.

Treatment options include:

  • Lifestyle modifications (smoking cessation, exercise programs)
  • Medications to improve blood flow
  • Pain management strategies
  • Specialized exercise programs

Diagnostic services:

  • Ankle-brachial index testing
  • Ultrasound imaging
  • Exercise testing to evaluate symptoms

Proper diagnosis and treatment planning are essential for managing claudication effectively. Early intervention can help prevent the condition from worsening and improve quality of life.

Symptoms

Claudication is muscle pain caused by limited oxygen. This pain occurs when you use specific muscles and goes away when you rest. Pain often happens in the calves, thighs, buttocks, hips, or feet.

Sometimes, people feel discomfort in their shoulders, biceps, or forearms.

The pain typically:

  • Feels like an ache, discomfort, or fatigue
  • Appears consistently during activity
  • Improves quickly after resting

Over time, claudication symptoms may worsen. You might even start feeling pain without activity.

Advanced stages of peripheral artery disease may include:

  • Cool skin
  • Severe, persistent pain that becomes numbness
  • Changes in skin color
  • Poor wound healing

If you experience these symptoms, especially wounds that don’t heal, contact a healthcare provider promptly.

When to See a Doctor

Contact your healthcare provider if you feel pain in your legs or arms during exercise. This pain might make you avoid physical activity, which can harm your overall health.

Leg and arm pain during exercise could point to peripheral artery disease, which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. This condition signals poor heart health.

Several other conditions affecting blood vessels, nerves, and bones can cause similar pain symptoms. A thorough examination and proper testing are essential to find the real cause of your discomfort.

Causes

Claudication happens mainly because of problems with blood flow in the arms and legs. When large blood vessels that carry blood to these limbs become damaged, they can’t deliver enough blood during physical activity.

The main cause of this damage is the buildup of fatty materials on artery walls. When too much cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can stick to the walls of blood vessels.

These sticky deposits contain fats, cholesterol, and other substances that form what doctors call plaque.

As plaque builds up, it makes the inside of arteries narrower. Think of it like a pipe getting clogged – water can still flow through, but not as much as before. This narrowing limits how much blood can reach muscles in the legs or arms.

Sometimes, these plaque deposits can crack open. When this happens, the body tries to heal the injury by forming a blood clot at the site.

Unfortunately, this clot can make the blockage even worse, reducing blood flow even more.

At rest, your limbs might get enough blood despite these narrowed arteries. But during activity, when muscles need more oxygen, the restricted blood flow causes pain and cramping – the main symptom of claudication.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your chance of developing this condition:

  • Age: People over 70, or over 50 with smoking or diabetes
  • Family history of similar circulation problems.
  • Health conditions:
    • Diabetes
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol
    • Obesity (BMI over 30)
  • Lifestyle factors: Smoking is a major risk factor

These factors can damage blood vessels and reduce blood flow to your legs, causing symptoms like pain during walking.

Possible Health Issues

Claudication often signals serious atherosclerosis and raises the risk of heart attack or stroke. People with peripheral artery disease may face several problems:

  • Wounds on the skin that fail to heal properly
  • Tissue death (gangrene) affecting muscles and skin
  • Possible need for limb amputation in severe cases

Prevention

To stop claudication before it starts, focus on a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet and doing regular physical activity.

Keep these important health factors in check:

  • Blood sugar levels if you have diabetes
  • Body weight within recommended ranges
  • Cholesterol and blood pressure at healthy levels

If you currently smoke, quitting tobacco use is crucial. These simple changes can significantly reduce your risk of developing circulation problems.

Health Writer

Janis's areas of expertise include nutrition, exercise, stress management, and mental health. She is passionate about educating and empowering people to take control of their health and make positive changes that can last a lifetime. Janis believes that small, sustainable changes are the key to long-term success, and she works with her clients to develop personalized plans that fit their individual needs and lifestyles.