Lateral leg pain, or pain on the outside aspect of the leg, can be caused by numerous conditions and injuries. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, leg pain can be caused by muscle cramps and strains, traumatic injuries, blood vessel disorders, tumors and certain medical conditions. Lateral leg pain can also be caused by compressed nerve roots--offshoots of the the spinal cord--in the lower back, or lumbar spine. Lateral leg pain ranges from mild to severe, and in some cases, it can affect a person's activities of daily living.
Shin Splints
Shin splints can cause lateral leg pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, or NIH, shin splints are characterized by pain and discomfort in the front and sides of the lower legs. The most common cause of shin splints is exercise, specifically, increasing training volume and intensity too quickly at the start of a training program. Switching from exercise on flat terrain to exercise on hills may also contribute to shin splints. The Mayo Clinic website states that common signs and symptoms associated with shin splints include the following: pain, tenderness and soreness in the lower leg; mild swelling in the affected area; and shin pain when running. The NIH notes that most cases of shin splints respond well to conservative care methods, such as rest, ice and certain physical therapy modalities. Avoiding activities that provoke or inflame the involved tissues is important for resolving symptomatic complaints.
Fibular Stress Fractures
Fibular stress fractures can cause lateral leg pain. The Sports Injury Clinic website states that fibular stress fractures are small fractures or hairline cracks in the fibula. The fibula is the smaller of the two long bones in the lower leg. The larger of the two long bones in the lower leg is called the tibia. The fibula is located on the lateral side of the shin. According to the Sports Injury Clinic website, stress fractures in the fibula are less common than stress fractures in the tibia, as the fibula does not bear the same amount of stress. Common signs and symptoms associated with a stress fracture of the fibula include localized pain and tenderness in the lateral leg at the site of injury and pain with weight-bearing activities. The Sports Injury Clinic website notes that tibial stress fractures cause significantly more pain with weight bearing. The most common cause of fibular stress fractures is traction and twisting forces placed on the fibula by the surrounding muscles.
IT Band Syndrome
Iliotibial, or IT, band syndrome can cause lateral leg pain. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, IT band syndrome is one of the most common causes of lateral leg and knee pain. IT band syndrome is caused by inflammation near the IT band's insertion point on the kneecap, tibia or shin bone and biceps femoris muscle tendon. The IT band is a long, thick band of connective tissue that crosses both the hip and knee joints. IT band syndrome is especially common in athletes who perform repetitive flexion and extension movements of the knee. Common signs and symptoms associated with IT band syndrome include the following: sharp, burning pain in the lateral leg and knee, pain that's made worse by running, pain when climbing stairs and lateral leg and knee pain that goes away with rest. The AAFP states that IT band syndrome-related pain or discomfort often causes people to quit exercising.
