Pain in a person's legs may be brought on by injuries to the ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones and bony coverings. People can reduce risk of pain and injury to the legs by completing a short warm-up and a quick stretch prior to more difficult activities or exercises. Also, they should gradually increase the intensity, frequency and duration of activities, further reducing the likelihood of pain and injury.
High-Ankle Sprains
A high-ankle sprain occurs just above a person's ankle, between the bones of his leg, causing pain. The membrane and ligament that hold a person's tibia and fibula together may partially or completely tear when the top of a person's foot is forced toward his shin or when his ankle is forcibly bent, angling inward, according to Sandra Shultz, Ph.D., and her colleagues, in their book "Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries." This type of injury is common in contact sports when a person's leg is planted on the ground, his ankle is bent inward and an opponent pushes against the lateral side of his leg.
Achilles Rupture
The Achilles tendon is the common tendon shared between a person's soleus and gastrocnemius muscles as they insert into her heel. This tendon may be ruptured by a sudden stretch or contraction of a person's calf muscles such as when she quickly jumps or has to start and stop immediately, causing severe pain and swelling near her heel.
Fractures
Fractures to the long part of a person's tibia and fibula usually result from a direct blow and will definitely cause pain. A person may also fracture the ends of his leg bones, closest to his ankle, when landing from a jump or when he rotates his leg while his foot is firmly planted on the ground. Symptoms of a fracture include immediate pain and swelling and possible deformity of his leg, according to Schultz.
Shin Splints
Shin splints are pain resulting from the inflammation of the membrane covering a person's tibia. This pain may be brought on when a person begins running in new shoes, when she suddenly runs on a different surface and when she quickly increases the intensity and duration of her run, according to MedlinePlus.com. Pain can also be caused if her calf muscles and Achilles tendon are tight. Flat feet and over-pronation predisposes a person to shin splints.
References
- "Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries"; Sandra Shultz, Ph.D., Peggy Houglum, Ph.D., and David Perrin, Ph.D.; 2005
- Mayo Clinic: Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Medline Plus: Shin Splints
