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 a symptom of peripheral arterial disease. If the condition gets worse, leg pain may occur even at rest (rest pain or rest claudication).