What Causes Leg Pain?
Injury-Related Causes
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- Fractures
Overuse Injuries
- Running-related strain
- Sports injuries
Circulation Issues
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Reduced blood flow
Identifying a Leg Injury: Signs and Symptoms
If you or another person is experiencing leg pain, it is important to receive an accurate diagnosis to ensure the correct management of your pain. Only a qualified physician can provide an accurate and reliable assessment.
Sprains, and ligament tears to the calf and/or thigh are the most common types of leg injuries but fractures to the bones of the leg are also possible. These usually occur from trauma or a direct blow. Depending of the severity of the pain, symptoms of a leg injury can include:
Sprains, and ligament tears to the calf and/or thigh are the most common types of leg injuries but fractures to the bones of the leg are also possible. These usually occur from trauma or a direct blow. Depending of the severity of the pain, symptoms of a leg injury can include:
- Severe pain
- Disfiguration or dislocation
- A sense of numbness or tingling
- Inability to move the leg normally due to weakness and or excessive pain
- Inability to put weight on the affected leg
- Signs of swelling, warmth, redness and/or bruising
If a bone is poking through the skin, call 000 for emergency assistance.
Treating a Leg Injury – How You Can Help
Elastoplast offers a range of leg injury management products to help you protect and care for you and your family.
Your first point of call should be to a qualified physician. While you are waiting for a medical attention, follow and apply the RICER protocol to the affected area:
- Rest – rest the leg and avoid putting weight on it
- Ice – apply a cold pack to the injury for 20 minutes at regular intervals to help reduce discomfort
- Compression – Gently strap or tape the affected area of the leg for support and gentle using an Elastoplast Tubular Support Bandage.
- Elevation – Elevate the injured leg and rest on a soft surface to help reduce any bleeding or swelling.
- Referral – Refer yourself or the injured child to a qualified physician for precise diagnosis and further care and treatment advice
Help reduce the risk of leg injuries
By their nature, accidents can be difficult to prevent. There are a number of proactive ways you can help avoid leg injuries from occurring or reoccurring, though.
- Thoroughly stretch, warm up and cool down before and after exercise and sport.
Warming up helps prepare muscles and joints for physical activity, while stretching and cooling down can improve flexibility and reduce the risk of strains and other exercise-related leg injuries.
- Don't overexert yourself. If you experience pain when playing sport or exercising, stop, cool down and gently stretch.
Pain can be an early warning sign of injury. Taking a break when discomfort occurs may help prevent minor muscle or tendon problems from becoming more serious.
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When travelling long distances in a sitting position, remember to walk around every two hours to decrease the risk of DVT.
Regular movement encourages healthy blood circulation in the legs and can help reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may occur during prolonged periods of inactivity.
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Wear appropriate footwear with good support and grip.
Unsupportive shoes can increase impact forces on the muscles, bones, and joints of the legs, potentially leading to conditions such as shin splints, stress fractures, and overuse injuries.
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When to Seek Medical Attention?
Seek urgent medical attention if:
- You cannot bear weight on the leg
- A bone is visible through the skin
- Severe swelling develops rapidly
- Numbness persists
- Symptoms suggest DVT, such as swelling, warmth, and pain in one leg
Support Products for Leg Injuries
Shop our range of Support here
Comfort Supports for Mild Support
Helps provide support to weak and injured joints. Offers compressive support to help provide relief for stiff, weak or injured joints as well as for symptoms of overuse.
Performance Supports for Flexible Support
Provides protection, and compression to weak or injured joints and when feeling discomfort. It supports active recovery by relieving joint pressure during movement and stimulating blood flow. The flexible fabric provides ultimate comfort.
Protective Supports for Moderate Support
Provide support to weak or injured joints and helps to provide protection from further injury. It gives a moderate level of support during activities, and the level of compression can be adjusted to your personal needs. The Dynamic Pain Guard provides protection and relief with 360° Support Technology that provides wrap-around support and stability to the joint, and Thermo-Tech material provides warmth to support circulation and recovery.
Protective Stabilisers for Rigid Support
Provide firm support to weak or injured joints and helps to provide protection from further injury. The relief and stability provided by the Stabilising Pain Guard is supported by Pro Stability Inlays that stabilise the joint. It is also supported by 360-degree Support Technology that provides wrap-around support and stability to the joint.
Frequently Asked Questions (5)
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What is the most common cause of leg pain?
Leg ache and pain can have many causes, including sports injuries, workplace injuries, overuse, back problems, circulation issues such as DVT, and everyday movements. Sprains and ligament tears affecting the calf or thigh are among the most common types of leg injury associated with leg pain. -
How do I know if my leg pain is serious?
Leg pain may require urgent medical attention if it is accompanied by severe pain, significant swelling, bruising, numbness, tingling, deformity, or an inability to move or bear weight on the affected leg. If a bone is visible through the skin or symptoms are severe, emergency medical care should be sought immediately. -
Can leg pain come from a back problem?
Yes, leg ache and pain can sometimes originate from a back problem rather than an injury in the leg itself. Back issues can cause pain that is felt in the leg, which is why a professional diagnosis is important when identifying leg pain causes. -
What is the difference between a strain and a sprain?
A strain affects a muscle or tendon, while a sprain involves stretching or tearing a ligament that connects bones at a joint. Both are common types of leg injury and can cause pain, swelling, and reduced mobility, although the specific tissues affected are different. -
How long does a leg injury take to heal?
The healing time for a leg injury depends on the type and severity of the injury, ranging from minor soft tissue damage to more serious fractures or ligament tears. Because recovery varies significantly, seek accurate diagnosis from a qualified physician to ensure appropriate treatment and management.
Please note that none of the above given tips or recommendations substitute medical advice. Important: consult a health professional in case of an injury or if you suspect overuse of joints or a medical condition such as a fracture. A physician should be consulted in those acute cases when the condition is accompanied by reddening, swelling or hyperthermia of joints, ongoing joint trouble or severe pain and/or are associated with neurological symptoms
(e.g. numbness, tingling, loss of motion).
For further information regarding Elastoplast products, please contact us via email on anz.consumerservices@beiersdorf.com. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages.