ABI (Ankle-Brachial Index)

The most common symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the lower extremities is a painful muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves when walking, climbing stairs or exercising.

The pain of PAD often goes away when you stop exercising, although this may take a few minutes. Working muscles need more blood flow.

If there’s a blood-flow blockage due to plaque buildup, the muscles won’t get enough blood during exercise to meet the needs. The “crampy” pain (called “intermittent claudication”), when caused by PAD, is the muscles’ way of warning the body that it isn’t receiving enough blood during exercise to meet the increased demand.

Many people with PAD have no symptoms or mistake their symptoms for something else

Symptoms of severe PAD include:

Leg pain that does not go away when you stop exercising

Foot or toe wounds that won’t heal or heal very slowly

***If you have questions about the test or would like to know if you are a candidate please call to schedule an appointment.