Intermittent claudication is a tight, aching, or squeezing pain in the calf, foot, thigh, or buttock that occurs during exercise, such as walking up a steep hill or a flight of stairs. This pain usually occurs after the same amount of exercise, intensifies until exercise becomes impossible, and is relieved by rest.

Intermittent claudication is the main symptom of peripheral arterial disease. As the condition gets worse, leg pain may occur even at rest (rest pain or rest claudication). Medicines and procedures are available to treat this condition.