A 43-year-old client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of peripheral vascular disorder. She arrives in her room via stretcher and requires assistance to move to her bed. The nurse notes that her left leg is cold to touch. She complains of having recently experienced muscle spasms in that leg. To determine if these muscle spasms are indicative of intermittent claudication, the nurse would begin her assessment with the following question:

Describing pain is an important aspect of the assessment; however, assessing activity preceding muscle spasms is equally important. Edema may occur with peripheral vascular disease, but it is not of particular importance in assessing intermittent claudication. Lesions may be present with peripheral vascular disease, but they are not an indication of intermittent claudication. With intermittent claudication, muscle spasms occur intermittently, mainly with walking and after exercising. Rest may relieve muscle spasms.