Leg Pain

Achilles pain runs down the back of the lower leg. It can be caused by inflammation in the tendon that joins the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is usually caused by inflammation after straining a tendon and is especially common in sports with quick changes of direction, like tennis. The pain can also be caused by poorly fitting sports shoes or wearing high heels daily.

Overuse of the peroneal tendons can cause leg pain. These tendons connect the outside of the foot to the muscles in the lower leg (peroneus longus and peroneus brevis). The purpose of the tendons is to help the foot roll outwards, to support the calf muscles and to stabilise the ankle. Runners are most likely to get leg pain from peroneal tendonitis

Pain along the front edges of the shin and lower leg are called medial tibial stress syndrome, or shin splints. People who play high-intensity sports like basketball or football or do repetitive load sports that involve a lot of running are prone to shin pain. The tissues along the front of the leg can no longer repair naturally.

Leg pain can be caused by partial tears in the small fibres of the calf muscle when the muscle is stretched beyond its normal range. The most common cause is overuse of the muscle or an extensive tension on the muscle by a direct blow to the calf.

Leg cramps can feel like a burning pain or extreme exhaustion of the muscles in the leg. The medical term for leg cramps is intermittent claudication and it typically happens when during walking. The pain and cramps are caused by poor blood circulation in the arteries of the legs.

Painful knee movements can be caused by ITBS or Iliotibial Band Syndrome. The IT bank is a ligament running on the outside of your thigh, from the hip to the shin. Most commonly the iliotibial band gets tight or inflamed from overuse in sports like running.

Children can experience pain in their legs. Usually, the pain is felt in the front of the thighs, in the calves, and behind the knees. Growing pains tend to occur during the night and sometimes wake a child. Over-exercising (too much running, jumping or climbing) may fatigue the immature musculoskeletal system and cause the pain.

As a multi-disciplinary team, the podiatrist, chiropractor, and occupational therapist work together to develop a proper diagnosis. For example, inadequate footwear is a cause of shin splints and is compounded by poor foot-core stability, over-pronation or over-supination. Running on hard surfaces can exacerbate the pain.

Or, leg pain can be triggered by lower back problems where pain travels along the nerves into the legs and feet. Another common cause is poor rehabilitation after an injury and a sudden increase in activities can aggravate the pain.

We have therapeutic programs to hasten a healthy recovery and freedom from the pain.

Call us, 08 9361 26 28. Make an appointment to see how we can help you.