Objectives: It goes without saying that the goal of the exercise training for intermittent claudication (IC) is recovery of leg function, but there are no reports demonstrating that leg function recovered by various kinds of treatment is maintained. In this study, the status of daily exercise after treatment was evaluated in IC patients. Subjects and Methods: Of 98 patients who were treated for the IC caused by arteriosclerosis obliterans, 83 patients (85%) who responded to the questionnaire were evaluated in this study. Concerning type of treatment, 31 patients were treated with medication (group M), 6 patients with exercise therapy (group E), and 46 patients with revascularization (group R). Results: Continued presence of IC was reported by 90% of the patients in group M, 100% in group E, and 57% in group R. Some difficulty in daily life was reported by 48% of the patients in group M, 17% in group E, and 17% in group R. Self-reported mean absolute walking distances were 456 m in the group M, 717 m in group E, 1195 m in group R, and showed significant inter group differences, while 77% of group M, 67% of group E, and 65% of group R, patients reported dissatisfaction with this absolute walking distance, with no statistical significance. Mean distance scores on this Walking Impairment Questionnaire were 45 points in group M, 48 points in group E, and 67 points in group R. Daily exercise was reported by 83% of the patients in group E, while it was reported by 48% in group M, and 39% in group R. Even in group R, who had revascularization, less than 50% of patients reported daily exercise. The exercise in 36 of 38 patients who reported exercise habits was walking for 30 to 60 min daily. The reason for no exercise in 15 of 44 patients who reported no exercise habit was unwillingness to exercise. Conclusion: The results showed that there were many patients who complained of residual IC after treatment, though they had no problem in daily activity. Several issues were highlighted, including the way to instruct exercise training, the indications for medication, and the technique of revascularization in complex lesions. It should be recognized and recommended that exercise training for IC is important, not only before, but also after treatment.

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