The reproducibility of the treadmill walking test for claudication

Two standard treadmill walking tests were carried out one week apart upon 117 patients with stable claudication. Although total walking time achieved was reproducible, there was a highly significant delay in the onset of pain during the second test. Absolute limb pressures, determined by Doppler, were reproducible for the group as a whole, although individual variation could be significant. A single walking test is an inadequate assessment of claudication.