Swelling and pressure in your legs after running can be caused by shin splints, stress fractures or edema. In most cases, these conditions can be treated and controlled by your physician so you can continue your normal running regimen.
Causes
If your swelling is caused by shin splits, it's due to inflammation of the periostium of the tibia. This inflammation is possibly caused by excess foot movement, wearing inappropriate shoes or decreased flexibility of the ankle joint, according to Sports Injury Clinic. Stress fractures can occur for runners because fatigued muscles transfer shock absorption to your bones, causing tiny cracks. If you have swelling in your legs because of edema, this condition is caused by excess fluid that leaks from capillaries and traps itself into surrounding tissues. Running is unlikely to cause edema directly; however, being pregnant, consuming too much salt or having damaged veins in your legs can lead to swelling. Other edema causes are kidney problems, congestive heart failure, lymphatic system problems and various medications.
Identification
Shin splints may cause swelling of the lower leg. According to Sports Injury Clinic, you may feel pain as you start to run, but this pain usually subsides as you continue. You may also feel a lump inside your shin bone. A stress fracture is painful while you're running, and the pain eases as you rest. If swelling while running is caused by edema, the tissue under your skin appears swollen and the skin appears shiny and stretched. According to MayoClinic.com, if you press your finger into the skin and the indent remains for several seconds, this is another sign of fluid trapped in your body's tissues.
Treatment
Shin splints and stress fractures are treated with rest. According to Sports Injury Clinic, use ice to reduce the inflammation caused by shin splints, and stretch your lower leg muscles and wear shock-absorbing insole shoes. While resting a stress fracture, avoid running for six to eight weeks because resuming activity too quickly can cause the fracture to recur, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In case of edema, you must treat or seek relief for the underlying condition. Treatment of edema may include being placed on medication, surgery or switching a current medication. In all cases of swelling, you should elevate your feet above heart level for a half-hour three to four times per day and avoid running in hot weather, according to MayoClinic.com.
Considerations
Seek medical attention if you experience leg pressure or swelling so your doctor can diagnose and treat any underlying medical conditions. Your doctor may perform urine tests, blood tests, X-rays, a CT scan or an MRI to determine what's causing problems in your legs. To prevent injuries that may cause swelling and pressure in your legs, replace your running shoes every 300 to 500 miles, according to MilanRunning.com.
