During exercise, if a patient reports pain in both calves and thighs but does not experience worsening symptoms, what does this indicate?

When a patient reports pain in both calves and thighs during exercise, it often suggests that the muscles are not receiving adequate oxygenated blood to meet their increased metabolic demands. This condition is frequently associated with intermittent claudication, a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD).

The fact that the symptoms do not worsen during the exercise indicates that they are not caused by acute conditions such as muscle cramping or severe vascular obstruction. However, it still suggests that there could be underlying arterial disease affecting blood flow in both legs. The presence of discomfort in the calves and thighs during activity typically points toward potential arterial disease, as these symptoms align with the effects of reduced blood flow due to stenosis or blockages within the arterial supply.

In contrast, improved blood flow would alleviate pain rather than cause it, and a normal exercise response would not typically provoke pain in the muscles being exercised, especially to the degree described. While symptoms might have a vascular origin, without further investigation, it is premature to conclude any specific vascular pathology without ruling out arterial disease first. Therefore, the indication of potential arterial disease in both legs is the best interpretation of the patient's symptoms during exercise.