(1) The development of claudication or ischemia of a leg in an otherwise healthy young patient is a dramatic clinical event.(2) Walking improves the symptoms of claudication in several ways.(3) Progressive symptoms, crippling claudication and limb ischemia warrant more aggressive interventions.(4) If conservative treatment through lifestyle modification isn't sufficient to ease claudication or prevent the disease from progressing, you may have other treatment options.(5) There is therefore overwhelming evidence that supervised exercise is of symptomatic benefit for intermittent claudication and little evidence that exercise advice alone is an effective treatment.
