Swelling in your legs during exercise can be an alarming symptom. If you have just experienced acute trauma to the legs, this swelling, or edema, is due to an inflammatory process. Other causes of edema involve the cardiovascular system and may require further workup by a physician to be ruled out.
Types of Edema
Edema is an increase in the volume of fluid present in the interstitial space. Your body distributes fluid throughout two separate compartments: the interstitial and the intravascular. The later is where your blood flows; this compartment is within your arteries, veins and capillaries. The interstitial space is the compartment between your blood vessels and your cells. Normally the amount of fluid in this region is regulated by your lymphatic system to prevent excess fluid accumulation and swelling. In some cases of trauma or cardiac disease, however, these regulatory mechanisms may fail leading to fluid accumulation and clinically evident edema.
Capillary Damage
If you have recently experienced trauma to your leg, edema is likely the result of capillary damage in that region. In this case, the edema will be unilateral, or will only appear on the leg that was injured. Mechanical trauma could potentially damage the cells lining your capillaries, known as endothelial cells, leading to increased permeability of fluid and proteins. When this occurs, the pressure within your blood vessels will force fluid into the interstitial compartment. This type of edema will present with the other tell-tale signs of inflammation: namely redness, heat and tenderness.
Trapped Fluid
According to MayoClinic.com, leg edema may be related to malfunction in one of several body systems that regulate fluid balance between the vasculature and the interstitium. The cardiovascular and lymphatic systems are directly related to regulating fluid balance between these compartments of the body. During exercise, your heart is working overtime and may have trouble keeping blood flowing properly. If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, the root problem may lay with heart function. Leg edema that presents with these cardiac and respiratory systems may by signs of heart failure and should be evaluated by a physician promptly.
Applications
Leg edema is an example of the delicate fluid balance of your body breaking down. Whether it is due to acute inflammation or a more serious cardiac condition, leg swelling following exercise is an important symptom that should be properly evaluated by your physician. He will be able to consider your entire case, including your history of other medical conditions, when determining the cause of edema.
References
- "Harrison's Internal Medicine: Edema"; Eugene Braunwald and Joseph Loscalzo; 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Leg Swelling
