Running is a fine and efficient exercise -- until you stumble. All of a sudden, your graceful actions can morph into uncoordinated awkwardness. Sometimes, it is just unfortunate and embarrassing, but other times stumbling can cause serious injury to your lower legs, in which case, professional help is crucial.
Knee and Calf
Your knees and calves are anatomically vulnerable. Your knee joint swings back and forth in midair, with few stabilizing structures. Its tendons and ligaments have great tensile strength, and yet they can twist and tear with misapplied stress. Your calves include long, flexible muscles -- extending from the back of the knee to the Achilles tendon -- that lift and propel you forward. The gastrocnemius and soleus are the two major calf muscles.
Bone, Tendon and Ligament Injury
Stumbling is a biomechanical error -- most prevalent in novice runners -- that can happen to anyone, states Dr. Pribut's Running Injuries Page. Whatever causes you to stumble -- a badly placed foot, a hidden or moving obstacle -- your knees are likely to feel acute strain because of your natural momentum. The joint's air pockets might pop, tendons might snap and the kneecap might dislocate. Your knee could get banged and even flex backward. Your calves might pull and bruise, and your Achilles tendon connection might tear.
Surface and Muscle Bleeding
Bruises and cuts indicate broken blood vessels and can lead to blood loss, pain and infection, according to Motley Health. Your knees and calves can bruise or cut easily because, despite their relatively large surface area, their skin layers are delicate and thin and have very little protective fat. Bleeding from the knee is common with impact injuries, and your calf muscles can sustain bleeding as well, in the form of bruises and contusions. Rest, ice, compression and elevation, or RICE, often help control initial bruising and pain.
Trauma Requires Medical Attention
Bone, tendon or ligament injuries require immediate, advanced care. A dislocated or fractured knee cap can be excruciating, not to mention disabling. A torn knee ligament can cause pain and total joint failure. Your lower leg bones are less vulnerable but can still incur breaks from falling, and your calf muscles can sustain serious tissue tearing. These injuries must be quickly and professionally assessed; so, do not delay in contacting a physician or hospital. Immediate treatment is often the key to full recovery.
Keep Minor Injuries Minor
Cuts and bruising, too, need timely care. All cuts carry the risk of infection, including infection from the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Leg staph infections are dangerous. Uncontrolled staph infection can spread through the bloodstream, and even from one person to another. Promptly clean any cut and apply a sterile covering. Bruises' broken blood vessels and capillaries usually heal on their own, but bruises can still be painful and ugly. If bruising spreads, or if cuts do not heal, consult your physician.
