There are numerous causes of leg muscle pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, leg muscle pain is a common symptom and complaint. Leg muscle pain can be caused by repetitive overuse injuries, traumatic injuries or medical conditions. Leg muscle pain ranges from mild to severe, and in some cases it can affect a person's activities of daily living.
Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps can cause leg muscle pain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center or UMMC, muscle cramps are involuntary and painful muscle contractions. Many people experience leg muscle cramps, either during physical exertion or while at rest. A cramping leg muscle usually feels hard, as though it's bulging. Muscle spasms are sometimes mistaken for muscle twitches. However, muscle twitches or fasciculations are minor involuntary muscle contractions that are confined to a small segment or area of the body. Common causes of muscle cramps include alcoholism, dehydration, excessive exercise, hypothyroidism, kidney failure, certain medications, muscle fatigue, metabolic conditions, pregnancy and decreased amounts of calcium and magnesium in the body. Leg muscle cramps can be intensely painful, although most muscle cramps go away when the affected muscle is stretched or elongated.
Plantaris Tendon Rupture
A plantaris tendon rupture can cause leg muscle pain. The National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics or NCEMI, the plantaris muscle is a vestigial structure that lies near the surface of the calf or posterior leg. Like many other lower leg muscles, the plantaris consists of a thin muscle belly and a long tendon. It acts as a plantar flexor, helping point the toe downward. Approximately 7 to 10 percent of the population lacks a plantaris muscle. According to the NCEMI, common signs and symptoms associated with a plantaris tendon rupture include the following: a limping gait, stinging pain in the calf and an audible snap in the affected area at the time of injury. A person with a plantaris tendon rupture will experience prolonged, deep calf pain that's often accompanied by swelling and broken blood vessels in the involved area. The NCEMI states that tennis players are particularly susceptible to plantaris tendon ruptures.
Shin Splints
Shin splints can also cause leg muscle pain. According to the Mayo Clinic website, shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, are a common leg muscle injury. Shin splints usually affect runners, who may develop the condition from wearing inappropriate footwear or increasing training volume and intensity too quickly. The term shin splints describes pain along the medial or inside edge of the tibia or shin bone. The tibia is the larger of the two bones that compose the lower leg. Pain manifests in this area when the lower leg bones, muscles and their connective tissues experience an overload. Common signs and symptoms associated with shin splints include the following: tenderness and swelling along the medial portion of the shank or lower leg, an inability to run or exercise without lower leg pain, a shin that is inflamed and warm to the touch and, in severe cases, shin pain that persists even during rest.
