The back of the leg is a common location for injuries. According to the Mayo Clinic website, leg pain can manifest anywhere in the leg, from the hip joint to the ankle. Pain can occur on the anterior, or front, of the leg or on the posterior, or back, of the leg. A common location for injuries, especially muscle and tendon injuries, is the posterior thigh, which contains the hamstring muscle group.
Hamstring Strain
A hamstring muscle strain can cause pain in the back of the leg. According to Dr. Michael Carnes, a chiropractic physician and the author of "Quick Reference Conservative Care Conditions Manual," a hamstring strain is a partial tear or an over-stretching of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus or semimembranosus muscles of the posterior thigh. Carnes states that the posterior thigh muscles are highly susceptible to injury, especially during eccentric muscle contractions--contractions while the muscle is lengthening--or at the end of the swing phase of a gait. Common signs and symptoms associated with a hamstring strain include the following: a sudden, sharp pain in the posterior thigh, pain in the affected area when the hamstring muscles are stretched or contracted against resistance, and swelling and bruising in the back of the thigh. Most hamstring strains respond well to conservative care methods, including stretching and strengthening exercises performed through a pain-free range of motion.
Sciatica
Sciatica can cause pain in the back of the leg. The Mayo Clinic website states that sciatica is pain that traces a path along the sciatic nerve--the largest nerve in the body--and its branches. The sciatic nerve begins near the spinal cord in the lower back and runs through the gluteal region, down the posterior thigh and into the back of the leg. The radiating pain that characterizes sciatica can be caused by numerous conditions in the low back and gluteal region. Any disorder or condition that interferes with the sciatic nerve can cause sciatica, including spinal tumors; spinal disc herniations; a narrowing of the intervertebral foramen, or the hole through which spinal nerve roots exit the spinal column; and trauma. Possible signs and symptoms associated with sciatica include the following: posterior thigh and leg pain; numbness and tingling in the leg and foot; and in severe cases, changes in bowel or bladder function. Changes in bowel or bladder function indicates a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention from a qualified health care professional.
Contusion
A contusion can cause pain in the back of the leg. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or the AAOS, muscle contusions or bruises are a common injury among athletes participating in contact sports, such as rugby, football and martial arts. Muscle contusions are usually caused by blunt-force trauma, in which superficial capillaries--small blood vessels near the skin's surface--rupture. Broken blood vessels allow blood to escape into the surrounding tissue and accumulate. Blood seeping into the surrounding tissues is the cause of discoloration at the injury site. Nerve endings in the affected area sense the increased pressure, which may be experienced as pain, pressure or nothing at all, depending on the severity of the injury. The AAOS states that most contusions heal quickly. Moderate or severe contusions may benefit from conservative care methods such as elastic therapeutic taping and cold laser therapy.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Leg Pain
- MayoClinic.com: Sciatica
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Muscle Contusion
- "Quick Reference Conservative Care Conditions Manual"; Michael Carnes, D.C.; 2004
