How is vascular claudication diagnosed?

How is vascular claudication diagnosed?

In order to determine if you have claudication — or how severe your case is — your healthcare provider may conduct the following:

• Physical exam: Your provider will examine your legs and feet, looking for color changes, wounds that are slow to heal or any other signs of poor circulation. They will also feel for your pulse in your legs and feet because one of the key symptoms of PAD is weak or no pulse in the lower legs and feet.
• Ankle-Brachial index: The ankle-brachial index is a test that measures your blood pressure in your arm and ankle and compares the two, looking for lower pressure in your legs.
• Angiography: Angiography is an imaging test that uses a special dye injected into your body. This helps doctors map the relevant blood vessels. It can be done using an X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and MRI.
• Ultrasound: Ultrasound uses very high-frequency sound waves to help providers visualize the blood vessels in your legs, especially areas that are narrowed or blocked.