Calf pain when walking: when to get it checked

Pain that starts after a set distance and eases with rest can come from narrowed arteries.

Claudication is cramping pain in the calf, thigh or buttock that comes on with walking and settles within minutes of rest. It is the most common sign of peripheral arterial disease.

The check is simple: we compare the blood pressure at your ankle and arm (the ankle–brachial index) and scan the arteries. A result below 0.9 suggests narrowing.

Many patients improve with a structured walking programme, stopping smoking and the right medication. When needed, narrowed arteries can be opened with a balloon or stent through a pinhole.