Effective 1/1/2023 - Moving to 10810 Parkside Drive, Suite G15 in Knoxville

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Leg Injuries

Overview

Minor leg injuries are common. Symptoms often develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury. Leg injuries are most likely to occur during:

  • Sports or recreational activities.
  • Work-related tasks.
  • Work or projects around the home.

Most leg injuries in children and teens occur during sports or play or from accidental falls. The risk for injury is higher in contact sports, such as wrestling, football, or soccer. It's also higher in high-speed sports, such as biking, in-line skating, skiing, snowboarding, and skateboarding. Knees, ankles, and feet are the most affected body areas. Any injury that occurs at the end of a long bone near a joint may injure the growth plate. It needs to be checked by a doctor.

Older adults have a higher risk for injuries and fractures. That's because they lose muscle mass and bone strength (osteoporosis, Opens dialog) as they age. They also have more problems with vision and balance, which increases their risk for accidental injury.

Most minor injuries will heal on their own. Home treatment is usually all that's needed.

Acute (traumatic) injury

An acute injury may be caused by a direct blow, a penetrating injury, or a fall. Or it may be caused by twisting, jerking, jamming, or bending a limb abnormally. Pain may be sudden and severe. Bruising and swelling may start soon after the injury. These injuries usually need prompt medical care. They may include:

  • Bruises (contusions, Opens dialog). These occur when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture, often from a twist, bump, or fall. Blood leaks into tissues under the skin. It causes a black-and-blue color that often turns colors, including purple, red, yellow, and green, as the bruise heals.
  • Injuries to the tough, ropy fibers (ligaments) that connect bone to bone and help stabilize joints (sprains, Opens dialog).
  • Injuries to the tough, ropy fibers that connect muscle to bone (tendons), such as a ruptured Achilles tendon, Opens dialog.
  • Pulled muscles (strains, Opens dialog), such as a hamstring strain.
  • Muscle ruptures, such as gastrocnemius rupture.
  • Broken bones (fractures, Opens dialog). A break, such as a lower leg fracture, Opens dialog, may occur when a bone is twisted, bent, jammed, struck directly, or used to brace against a fall.
  • Pulling or pushing bones out of the normal position among the other bones that make up a joint (dislocations, Opens dialog).

Overuse injuries

Overuse injuries occur when too much stress is placed on a joint or other tissue. This can happen when you "overdo" an activity or do the same activity over and over again. Overuse injuries include:

  • Inflammation of the sac of fluid that cushions and lubricates the bones (bursitis, Opens dialog).
  • Inflammation, tearing, or fraying of the tough, ropy fibers that connect muscles to bones (tendinitis, Opens dialog).
  • Hairline cracks in bones, such as stress fractures of the foot, Opens dialog.
  • Inflammation of the fibrous covering of the bone (periosteum) where muscle fibers attach to it (shin splints, Opens dialog).
  • Inflammation of the plantar fascia. This is a broad, flat ligament on the bottom of the foot (plantar fasciitis, Opens dialog).
  • Inflammation at the top of the shinbone (tibia) where the patellar tendon attaches to a bony prominence (Osgood-Schlatter disease, Opens dialog). This is more likely to occur during rapid growth periods. It's usually seen in teen athletes, especially those who play football, basketball, or soccer, and those who are involved with gymnastics and dance. The disease involves both legs about 25% of the time. It's rarely a chronic, lifelong condition.

Treatment

Treatment for a leg injury may include rest, ice, elevation, and other first aid (such as using a brace, splint, or cast), or physical therapy. Some leg injuries are treated with medicine or surgery, especially if a bone is broken. Treatment depends on:

  • The location and type of injury, and how bad it is.
  • When the injury occurred.
  • Your age, health condition, and activities, such as work, sports, or hobbies.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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