What is a typical characteristic of intermittent claudication?

Intermittent claudication is characterized by pain that typically occurs during physical activity, particularly when the muscles require increased blood flow, such as during walking or exercise. This pain arises due to inadequate blood flow, usually as a result of peripheral arterial disease, where narrowed arteries restrict blood flow to the limbs.

The hallmark feature of intermittent claudication is that the pain subsides with rest. When the activity ceases, blood flow is no longer restricted in the affected muscles, allowing the pain to resolve. This cycle of pain during exertion and relief during rest is what distinguishes intermittent claudication from other types of pain.

Other options do not reflect the typical pattern seen in intermittent claudication; constant and severe pain would suggest a different medical issue, as would pain that worsens with rest or remains unchanged with activity.