Most people don’t realize that leg pain is a serious issue that can be debilitating for many people.
If you are experiencing leg ache, it is important to understand how it affects your mobility and quality of life.
Physical therapy is a great way to get relief from the pain that you’re in.
What causes leg pains?
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- Muscle spasms – typically caused by overuse, dehydration, poor blood flow, or strain. Can happen in your calf and quadriceps and be quite painful.
- Muscle tears – a tear or stretching of muscle fibers in the leg.
- Radiculopathy (from Low Back) – a pinched nerve which radiates pain in the lower back and down the legs.
- Quad Strain – pain, swelling, and tenderness of the quadricep muscles. Depending on severity, you’ll feel pain in the thigh area which can make walking and running difficult.
- Hamstring Strain – the hamstring tendon, along the back of your thigh, pulls or tears. In general, you’ll feel a sharp pain in the back of your thigh.
- Circulatory problems – deep vein thrombosis or other clotting problems are very dangerous, they can present as redness, swelling, and pain in the calf or lower leg.
How a sore leg affects your life
Leg pain can limit your ability to stand for long periods of time or to walk long distances. If this limits your ability to work or take care of your family, leg pain can greatly complicate your life.
Whether it is from a bike accident, running errands or just doing housework on your feet for hours; sore legs can take over. The pain might be distracting and make you feel like quitting what you’re doing! However, don’t give up because there are ways to treat your leg pain so your life won’t be affected as much in the future.
The percentage of adults with lower limb pain increased with age, from 21.0% for those aged 18–29 and 28.8% for those aged 30–44 to 43.4% for those aged 45–64 and 50.3% for those aged 65 and over – NCHS Data Brief – July 2021
What you can do to mitigate immediate pain
If the pain or difficulty came on suddenly, but with no obvious major injury, it is usually safe to assume that rest, ice, and elevation should help with the immediate pain while you seek out options for treatment.
If you suspect a deep vein thrombosis or clot you should call your doctor to seek medical help before beginning strenuous exercises or stretches.
How physical therapy helps control leg pain
By controlling pain, and allowing injured structures to heal, while strengthening other areas of the leg you can make the most of your time even when fighting leg pain. We use electrical stimulation, heat, soft tissue mobilization, manual stretching, ice, therapeutic ultrasound and other modalities to treat and control leg pain.
Do you have questions about your first visit or insurance? You can schedule an appointment by calling or completing our HIPAA compliant appointment form.
