intermittent claudication
LowFormal/Technical/Medical
Definition
Meaning
A cramping pain in the leg muscles brought on by walking and relieved by rest, caused by inadequate blood flow.
A symptom of peripheral arterial disease where reduced blood supply to the leg muscles causes exercise-induced ischemic pain. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe any recurring, halting progress under strain.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a compound medical term. 'Intermittent' describes the recurring, on-and-off nature of the symptom. 'Claudication' is derived from the Latin for 'limping'. The symptom is a classic indicator of peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The condition is diagnosed and referred to identically.
Connotations
Purely clinical. No regional connotations beyond general medical terminology.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used exclusively in medical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Patient + has/experiences/suffers from + intermittent claudicationIntermittent claudication + is + caused by/treated with + NPThe + intermittent claudication + worsens/improvesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A metaphorical use: 'The project proceeded with intermittent claudication, constantly stopping and starting.'”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. A metaphorical extension is possible but highly specialised.
Academic
Used in medical, nursing, physiology, and public health literature.
Everyday
Extremely rare. A patient would more likely describe the symptom as 'leg cramps when I walk'.
Technical
The primary context. Used in clinical notes, diagnostics, medical textbooks, and specialist consultations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The patient presented with classic intermittent-claudication symptoms.
- He had a typical intermittent-claudication history.
American English
- The intermittent-claudication pain was debilitating.
- She was diagnosed with intermittent-claudication syndrome.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This term is too advanced for A2 level.
- My grandfather has pain in his legs when he walks. The doctor called it intermittent claudication.
- If you get cramps in your calves after walking a short distance, you should tell your doctor.
- The classic symptom of peripheral artery disease is intermittent claudication, which forces patients to stop and rest frequently.
- Diagnosing intermittent claudication involves measuring the blood pressure in the ankles and comparing it to the arms.
- Despite the progression of his atherosclerosis, his intermittent claudication remained stable at a distance of roughly 200 metres.
- The study compared the efficacy of supervised exercise therapy versus angioplasty for improving walking distance in patients with disabling intermittent claudication.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: INTERruptions while walking (MITTent sounds like 'mitten' but think 'mitt' for a pause) cause you to CLAUD (like 'claw') your leg in pain. Inter-MITT-ent CLAUD-ication.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOOD FLOW IS A SUPPLY LINE; PAIN IS A SIGNAL OF BLOCKAGE / PROGRESS IS WALKING; HINDRANCE IS A LIMP.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation of 'claudication' as 'хромота' (lameness) without the 'intermittent' and medical context. The standard medical term is 'перемежающаяся хромота'.
- Do not confuse with general 'судорога' (cramp) or 'боли в ногах' (leg pains). The key is the specific link to walking and resting.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'intermittent claudification' or 'interminent claudication'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He claudicates'). It is a noun phrase only.
- Confusing it with rest pain or neurogenic claudication (spinal stenosis).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of intermittent claudication?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a symptom, not a disease itself. It is the primary symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Extremely rarely. It is almost exclusively a symptom affecting the lower limbs (calves, thighs, buttocks).
First-line treatment includes supervised exercise therapy, smoking cessation, and medication. More severe cases may require angioplasty or surgery.
Intermittent claudication is vascular (from poor blood flow), pain is cramping and exercise-induced. Sciatica is neurological (from nerve compression), pain is often burning/shooting and may be constant or position-related.