US Medical Term · symptoms
Claudication
Claudicación
Also: Dolor de piernas al caminar (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Claudication |
| Spanish (Español) | Claudicación |
| Chinese (中文) | 間歇性跛行 |
| Korean (한국어) | 간헐적 파행 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đau cách hồi |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Sakit sa binti kapag naglalakad |
| Portuguese (Português) | Claudicação |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ปวดขาเวลาเดิน |
| Japanese (日本語) | 間欠性跛行 |
What it means
Claudication is cramping, aching, or fatigue in the leg muscles — most often the calf — that occurs during walking or exercise and is relieved by a few minutes of rest. It is the hallmark symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD), where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Untreated PAD can progress to critical limb ischemia, where pain occurs at rest and tissue damage may develop. Tell your doctor about leg pain with walking. Rest pain, non-healing wounds, or a suddenly cold pale leg are emergencies requiring immediate care.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My calf cramps up and hurts when I walk more than half a block, but the pain goes away when I rest.
Mi pantorrilla se acalambra y duele cuando camino más de media cuadra, pero el dolor desaparece al descansar.
I have to stop walking every few minutes because of severe leg pain.
Tengo que dejar de caminar cada pocos minutos por el dolor severo en las piernas.
My leg pain with walking has been getting worse over the past few months.
El dolor en las piernas al caminar ha empeorado durante los últimos meses.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
I73 Other peripheral vascular diseasesRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026