Southern View: October 18, 2016

20
Tuesday October 18 2016
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Cramping pain in my
leg when I try to walk
Intermittent Claudication
“This is different from “night-cramps” Ietje van Stolk, (physiotherapist
at Physical Sense and the centre for Senior Well-being) explains.
This kind of cramping (sometimes called
“window -shopping legs”) is triggered by
normal exertion of the leg muscles and
is typically caused by obstruction of the
arteries. Sufferers have to find themselves a
regular excuse to stop for a while to allow
the blood flow to reach the cramped up
muscles.
The official name for this condition is
Intermittent Claudication. Claudication is
pain and/or cramping in the lower leg due
to inadequate blood flow to the muscles.
The pain usually causes the person to
limp. The word “claudication” comes from
the Latin “claudicare” meaning to limp.
Claudication typically is felt while walking,
and subsides with rest. It is commonly
referred to as “intermittent” claudication
because it comes and goes with exertion
and rest. In severe claudication, the pain is
also felt at rest.
It is a painful condition that really
“cramps people’s lifestyle”. The pain free
walking distance tends to get shorter as the
condition progresses. If you suffer from
this condition it is crucial to understand
that the body actually finds a way to
increase the blood flow to the legs IF
THE DEMAND is there. It is like every
thing in the body……..”use it or lose it”.
Unfortunately many people with this
condition end up in a vicious cycle; the
pain stops the walking, and the lack of
walking increases the problem.
Exercise is recommended to greatly
reduce symptoms and to increase
pain free walking distance. Eight years
ago on request of the vascular nurse
in Christchurch hospital, Physical
Sense started a two weekly circuit for
Intermittent Claudication patients. The
pilot program started with 50 clients.
• 82% of all clients, experienced
improvement in their walking distance
• Quite a number of clients doubled their
walking distance, for some it even became
limitless.
• After a year 88% of clients were still active
• There was an exceptionally low dropout
rate of only 8%
• The 18% who did not notice a difference
in relation to their walking distance still
enjoyed all the other benefits of exercise
(to heart, lungs, sugar levels, bone health,
balance and mood etc.)
People always start in a group, so they
get the benefit of a guided introduction to
more exercise and the use of the gym. In
the groups we are looking at 50-80+ year
olds that are giving their legs a workout
by using steppers, treadmills, stationary
bikes and other exercise stations. That way
they also benefit from working out with
people who suffer the same problems. “It
is amazing the support and wisdom people
receive from each other” Ietje says. In this
“circuit setup” every client can work in
their own tempo, and people simply sit
down and have a rest when the “cramping
in the leg” becomes too much. Some
people stay in the group and some choose
to use the gym by themselves to keep on
top of their claudication.
At Physical Sense they have been going
strong with the Intermittent Claudication
class ever since the first class eight years
ago.
You can try the classes for FREE. If you
want to continue and you have WINZ
support, WINZ usually pays for the classes
(as WINZ is VERY supportive of these
classes).
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