Calf IC
Thigh and buttock IC
Foot IC
Chronic compartment syndrome
Venous claudication
Nerve root compression
Symptomatic Baker cyst
Hip arthritis
Spinal stenosis
Foot/ankle arthritis
Condition: Calf IC
Location
Calf muscles
Prevalence
3% of adult population
Characteristic
Cramping, aching discomfort
Effect of exercise
Reproducible onset
Effect of rest
Quickly relieved
Effect of position
None
Other characteristic
May have atypical limb symptoms on exercise
Condition: Thigh and buttock IC
Location
Buttocks, hip, thigh
Prevalence
Rare
Characteristic
Cramping, aching, discomfort
Effect of exercise
Reproducible onset
Effect of rest
Quickly relieved
Effect of position
None
Other characteristic
Impotence. May have normal pedal pulses with isolated iliac artery disease
Condition: Foot IC
Location
Foot arch
Prevalence
Rare
Characteristic
Severe pain on exercise
Effect of exercise
Reproducible onset
Effect of rest
Quickly relieved
Effect of position
None
Other characteristic
Also may present as numbness
Condition: Chronic compartment syndrome
Location
Calf muscles
Prevalence
Rare
Characteristic
Tight, bursting pain
Effect of exercise
After much exercise (jogging)
Effect of rest
Subsides very slowly
Effect of position
Relief with elevation
Other characteristic
Typically heavy muscled athletes
Condition: Venous claudication
Location
Entire leg, worse in calf
Prevalence
Rare
Characteristic
Tight, bursting pain
Effect of exercise
After walking
Effect of rest
Subsides slowly
Effect of position
Relief speeded by elevation
Other characteristic
History of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, signs of venous congestion, edema
Condition: Nerve root compression
Location
Radiates down leg
Prevalence
Common
Characteristic
Sharp lancinating pain
Effect of exercise
Induced by sitting, standing, or walking
Effect of rest
Often present at rest
Effect of position
Improved by change in position
Other characteristic
History of back problems. Worse with sitting. Relief when supine or sitting. Not intermittent
Condition: Symptomatic Baker cyst
Location
Behind knee, down calf
Prevalence
Rare
Characteristic
Swelling, tenderness
Effect of exercise
With exercise
Effect of rest
Present at rest
Effect of position
None
Other characteristic
Not intermittent
Condition: Hip arthritis
Location
Lateral hip, thigh
Prevalence
Common
Characteristic
Aching discomfort
Effect of exercise
After variable degree of exercise
Effect of rest
Not quickly relieved
Effect of position
Improved when not weight bearing
Other characteristic
Symptoms variable. History of degenerative arthritis
Condition: Spinal stenosis
Location
Often bilateral buttocks, posterior leg
Prevalence
Common
Characteristic
Pain and weakness
Effect of exercise
May mimic IC
Effect of rest
Variable relief but can take a long time to recover
Effect of position
Relief by lumbar spine flexion
Other characteristic
Worse with standing and extending spine
Condition: Foot/ankle arthritis
Location
Ankle, foot, arch
Prevalence
Common
Characteristic
Aching pain
Effect of exercise
After variable degree of exercise
Effect of rest
Not quickly relieved
Effect of position
May be relieved by not bearing weight
Other characteristic
Variable, may relate to activity level and present at rest

Norgren L, Hiatt WR, Dormandy JA, Nehler MR, Harris KA, Fowkes FG. Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC II). J Vasc Surg 2007;45(Suppl S):S5-67