Leg pain during exercise can be caused by overuse, working too hard or being overweight. The pain can manifest as sharp, dull, aching, heavy or burning, depending on the cause. It can also be sporadic or constant. If the underlying cause of the pain is not found, it can develop into a chronic injury due to exercise.
Potential Causes
An exercise injury can cause leg pain. This injury could be a torn or overstretched muscle, also known as a strain. Over-exercising can also cause stress fractures, which are hairline cracks in the bone, or inflamed tendons known as tendinitis. Runners often experience shin splints, which is pain in the front of your leg that is caused by overuse or repetitive pounding.
You can also pull muscles in your leg, especially if you do not stretch properly.
At-Home Treatment
If you have leg pain due to exercise, the first step is to try to treat it at home. Follow the RICE method---rest, ice, compress and elevate. Take some time off from exercising to give your leg time to heal. While you are resting, use pillows to elevate your leg so it's above your heart. This decreases blood flow to the injured area and decreases swelling. Apply ice to the painful area for 15 minutes four times a day. If you can stretch the muscle without incredible pain, try to do so while massaging the cramping muscles. You can also take over-the-counter pain meds such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Medical Treatment
There are certain injuries for which at-home treatment will not work. Call a doctor if your leg is swollen or red, if you cannot continue to exercise or if self-care doesn't help after a few weeks.
The doctor might X-ray your leg after asking questions such as what type of exercising you have been doing and if you recently increased or changed your exercise routine. Physical therapy or stronger pain medications might be prescribed. Surgery might be an option for knee injuries.
Stretching
Stretching improperly is the No. 2 cause of running injuries, according to running website Runners Rescue. This applies to both the runners who do not stretch enough and those who stretch too much. Morning runners tend to become injured more frequently than those who exercise later in the day, suggesting that it is not a good idea to stretch muscles that haven't been warmed up. You can try to stretch about 10 to 15 minutes into your exercise so your muscles have had a chance to warm up.
Go slowly when stretching, as it can actually cause more pain to stretch quickly. Stop the stretch when you begin to feel tightness in the muscle, never stretching to the point that you feel pain. Hold the stretch for 30 to 40 seconds.
Stretch at least one time per week if you only exercise infrequently. For those who exercise multiple times per week, stretch about 10 to 20 minutes after warming up. To avoid leg injuries, include stretches for your calves, shins, hips, buttocks and thighs.
Prevention/Solution
Prevent overuse injuries by warming up thoroughly before exercise and cooling down afterward. Hydrate yourself properly, especially immediately before, during and after exercising.
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to have leg pain or injuries because of the stress on the bones and joints. Maintaining a proper weight and letting your body get used to regular exercise will decrease the likelihood of pain.
