How often have you been walking, exercising or maybe even just sitting, and you experience lower leg pain? It’s not uncommon to occasionally feel temporary leg pain from standing too long, or have a muscle spasm, known as a charley horse. But not all causes of lower leg pain should be brushed off.
Any sort of leg pain can make you want to do nothing but stay off your feet until it goes away. When you’re experiencing leg pain, it can interfere with your ability to carry out your daily physical activities. By learning about the possible reasons for your lower leg pain, you can determine the best way to treat it, such as physical therapy.
We’ll talk about the basics of lower leg pain, potential causes for the ache and how physical therapy can help treat it.
The rundown on lower leg pain
If you’re describing pain in your lower leg, you’re referring to the area between your knee and your ankle, which is called the crus. It’s the location of many major muscles, including the gastrocnemius and soleus in the calf muscle, as well as the anterior tibialis at the front of the shin. The lower leg is also the home to two major bones, the tibia and the fibula.
The severity of lower leg pain can range from person to person based on the cause. While some people would describe theirs as a stabbing pain, others may experience pain that feels like a burning sensation.
Leg pain can also be associated with other symptoms, including numbness or tingling and difficulty extending your leg.
Potential reasons that you’re experiencing lower leg pain
While some causes of leg pain are temporary and nothing to worry about, persistent or worsening leg pain may be the sign of an injury or a medical condition that needs to be checked out by a health provider.
Here are some possible causes for your leg pain:
- Strain — Also known as a pulled muscle, a strain occurs when a muscle or tendon becomes overstretched or torn. If you’re experiencing a strain in your lower leg, it’s likely coming from a damaged calf muscle. It can cause radiating pain up from your ankle as well as potential bruising and swelling. A strained calf muscle often occurs during sports due to jumping or quick pivot movements.
- Sciatica — Your sciatic nerve starts in your lower back and runs down the back of your legs. When there’s pressure applied on the nerve due to a herniated disc or bone spur from the spine, it can cause radiating pain down the leg, known as sciatica. It can also cause inflammation and numbness.
- Tendinitis — When there’s inflammation of one or both tendons that connect your foot to your lower leg, it’s known as peroneal tendinitis. It’s often caused by repetitive movements or overuse, which is why it usually impacts athletes like runners. Peroneal tendinitis usually flares up while walking or running, and causes pain up the outside of the lower leg.
- Shin splints — When there’s repetitive stress applied to your shinbone, which is located at the front of your lower leg, you can overwork the bone tissue, muscles and tendons, causing shin splints. This refers to pain along the inner side of your shinbone, known as the tibia. The leg pain is especially common in people who participate in high-impact activities, such as playing sports or intense exercise routines.
How physical therapy can help treat causes of lower leg pain
When you’re experiencing lower leg pain that isn’t getting better, it’s time to book a physical therapy appointment. A physical therapist can determine the cause of your leg pain and design a personalized treatment plan based on the cause and severity of your symptoms.
Physical therapy can help alleviate your lower leg pain as well as increase the area's strength and overall mobility. The two most common types of physical therapy treatments used on the lower extremity are manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.
A physical therapist may recommend using a manual therapy technique like soft tissue mobilization, which involves the therapist using their hands in massage-like movements to find scar tissue and release the tension.
Your therapist can also guide you through safe and effective exercises that will strengthen your lower leg muscles to reduce the risk of future pain or injury.
Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT for lower leg pain
At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need.
Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you and that can help you address lower leg pain.
Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!
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