To date, an important challenge that clinicians hare facing in the assessment and diagnosis of intermittent claudication is that pathologies associated with vascular or neurogenic claudication can coexist in the same patient. Differentiation between both origins can be difficult due to variable signs and symptoms which can be atypical.~The first aim of this study was to elaborate and validate a treadmill walking test that would help discriminate between neurogenic claudication from vascular claudication. The second objective of this study is to determine if the treadmill walking test can discriminate spinal stenosis from low back pain with radiating pain in lower limb. 60 participants (20 with spinal stenosis, 20 with peripheral artery disease and 20 with non-specific low back pain) will be recruited. Participants will be invited to walk on a treadmill at a speed of 1,2 mph for a maximum of five minutes for both tasks (straight walking posture and inclined walking posture). Each walking task will be followed by a rest time of five minutes in sitting position. It is hypothesized that walking time difference for the occurrence of pain and for pain relief will be sensitive and specific to pathologies and help to discriminate lumbar spinal stenosis.
The first aim of this study was to elaborate and validate a treadmill walking test that would help discriminate between neurogenic claudication from vascular claudication. The second objective of this study is to determine if the treadmill walking test can discriminate spinal stenosis from low back pain with radiating pain in lower limb.