Patients with intermittent claudication typically feel pain in the calf while walking, while the pain subsides with rest. It is, therefore, commonly referred to as intermittent claudication. (In very severe claudication, the pain is also felt at rest.)

The usually intermittent nature of the pain of claudication is due to a temporary inadequate supply of oxygen to the muscles of the leg. The poor oxygen supply is a result of narrowing of the arteries that supply the leg with blood. This limits the supply of oxygen to the leg muscles and is felt especially when the oxygen requirement of these muscles rises with exercise or walking.

Intermittent claudication can be due to temporary artery narrowing due to spasm of the artery (vasospasm,) permanent artery narrowing due to atherosclerosis, or the complete blockage of an artery of the leg.

Intermittent claudication is more common in men than in women. The condition affects 1-2% of the population under 60 years of age, 3- 4% of persons age 60 to 70 and over 5% of persons over 70.

The prognosis with intermittent claudication is generally favorable because the condition often stabilizes or improves in time. Conservative treatment is advised initially. Walking often helps increase the distance that the patient can walk without symptoms.

In the summer of 2004 we started a regional network in the Parkstad Limburg area, the Regional Network Walk Therapy (in Duth: Regionaal Netwerk Looptherapie) in which physiotherapists train patients with claudication.  On October 7th 2004 this project has already been awarded the ING Bank quality award.

Goal of the network is to enable high quality supervised walking therapy for claudication patients - according to the Dutch Claudication Guidelines for Physiotherapy - with easy patient access and a triage system for high risk patients.

In  the network vascular surgeons and specialised vascular nurses of the Atrium Medical Center, regional physioterapists and researchers of Maastricht University closely collaborate.

All participating physiotherapists have been especially trained by means of an accredited course.

Communication between the vasuclar nurses, surgeons and physioterapists takes places through WEBMED, a specialised database, that not only stores patient iformation but also gives feedback on treatment results and has in-built triage systems for high risk patients.

Our specialised vascular nurses: Janine Houtermans - Anouk Dahlmans - Ingrid Snijders