Ischemic claudication mimicking lumbar disk herniation in the athlete.

The rising trend in athletic activity by the older individual will cause an increase of the development of vascular ischemia as a cause of low back and leg pain. Physicians dealing with the athletic population must be familiar with the various signs and symptoms of back and leg pain and must be able to differentiate between a vascular and neurogenic etiology. The rapid distinction between the two may lead to the avoidance of a catastrophic event.