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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Why do I have calf pain on walking ?

    Related Topics
    Cardiology & Vascular Health Peripheral Neuropathy
    When I walk up hills my calf muscle get tight and sore
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    Dr Shannon Thomas

    Vascular Surgeon

    Dr Thomas is a Vascular Surgeon with over 10 years clinical experience in the field. He is a member of the Royal Australian College of … View Profile

    This is a good question

    Pain in the calves with exercise is called claudication. Claudication is most commonly caused by a restriction in the blood flow to the legs. Hence when climbing up a hill (exercise!) the circulatory system is unable to deliver enough blood flow to the calf muscles, which then complain of pain.

    Circulatory conditions that can lead to claudication include blockages of the arteries in the lower abdomen, thighs, and legs. Rarely, aneurysms (abnormal ballooning of the arteries) can also cause claudication.

    The traditional approach to fixing these blockages was to perform bypass surgery. This is rarely needed nowadays with increasingly sophisticated medical technology that allows for placements of stents, balloons or vacuuming of the blockage to restore blood flow to the legs. These procedures can be performed as day stay, local anaesthesia cases, and allow for immediate return to work/ normal activities.

    Your Vascular Surgeon is best placed to assess calf cramping and pain, and provide you with a diagnosis and information required to restore the blood flow and hence relieve your cramping.

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