Pegasus Post: November 22, 2016
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PEGASUS POST Tuesday <strong>November</strong> <strong>22</strong> <strong>2016</strong> 13<br />
HEALTH & BEAUTY<br />
Cramping pain in my<br />
leg when I try to walk<br />
Intermittent Claudication<br />
This kind of cramping (sometimes called<br />
“window -shopping legs”) is triggered by<br />
normal exertion of the leg muscles and<br />
is typically caused by obstruction of the<br />
arteries. Sufferers have to find themselves a<br />
regular excuse to stop for a while to allow<br />
the blood flow to reach the cramped up<br />
muscles.<br />
The official name for this condition is<br />
Intermittent Claudication. Claudication is<br />
pain and/or cramping in the lower leg due<br />
to inadequate blood flow to the muscles.<br />
The pain usually causes the person to<br />
limp. The word “claudication” comes from<br />
the Latin “claudicare” meaning to limp.<br />
Claudication typically is felt while walking,<br />
and subsides with rest. It is commonly<br />
referred to as “intermittent” claudication<br />
because it comes and goes with exertion<br />
and rest. In severe claudication, the pain is<br />
also felt at rest.<br />
It is a painful condition that really<br />
“cramps people’s lifestyle”. The pain free<br />
walking distance tends to get shorter as the<br />
condition progresses. If you suffer from<br />
this condition it is crucial to understand<br />
that the body actually finds a way to<br />
increase the blood flow to the legs IF<br />
THE DEMAND is there. It is like every<br />
thing in the body……..”use it or lose it”.<br />
Unfortunately many people with this<br />
condition end up in a vicious cycle; the<br />
pain stops the walking, and the lack of<br />
walking increases the problem.<br />
Exercise is recommended to greatly<br />
reduce symptoms and to increase<br />
pain free walking distance. Eight years<br />
ago on request of the vascular nurse<br />
in Christchurch hospital, Physical<br />
Sense started a two weekly circuit for<br />
Intermittent Claudication patients. The<br />
pilot program started with 50 clients.<br />
• 82% of all clients, experienced<br />
improvement in their walking distance<br />
• Quite a number of clients doubled their<br />
walking distance, for some it even became<br />
limitless.<br />
• After a year 88% of clients were still active<br />
• There was an exceptionally low dropout<br />
rate of only 8%<br />
• The 18% who did not notice a difference<br />
in relation to their walking distance still<br />
enjoyed all the other benefits of exercise<br />
(to heart, lungs, sugar levels, bone health,<br />
balance and mood etc.)<br />
People always start in a group, so they<br />
get the benefit of a guided introduction to<br />
more exercise and the use of the gym. In<br />
the groups we are looking at 50-80+ year<br />
olds that are giving their legs a workout<br />
by using steppers, treadmills, stationary<br />
bikes and other exercise stations. That way<br />
they also benefit from working out with<br />
people who suffer the same problems. “It<br />
is amazing the support and wisdom people<br />
receive from each other” Ietje says. In this<br />
“circuit setup” every client can work in<br />
their own tempo, and people simply sit<br />
down and have a rest when the “cramping<br />
in the leg” becomes too much. Some<br />
people stay in the group and some choose<br />
to use the gym by themselves to keep<br />
on top of their claudication.<br />
At Physical Sense they have been<br />
going strong with the Intermittent<br />
Claudication class ever since the first<br />
class eight years ago.<br />
You can try the classes for FREE. If<br />
you want to continue and you have<br />
WINZ support, WINZ usually pays<br />
for the classes (as WINZ is VERY<br />
supportive of these classes).<br />
“This is different from “night-cramps” Ietje van Stolk, (physiotherapist<br />
at Physical Sense and the centre for Senior Well-being) explains. Phone 377 2577.<br />
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