No matter your running experience level, at some point or another you are bound to experience leg ache following a run. This is normal and could be caused by several different factors.
Delay-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), one of the primary causes of leg discomfort after running, may occur if you make changes to your training program too quickly, increase mileage or intensity too quickly or make any other significant adjustments that result in increased DOMS symptoms.
Shin splints
Shin splints, also known as frontal tibial syndrome, is pain in the front of your lower leg (your shin bone or tibia). Repetitive impact forces during running and vigorous walking tend to overload muscle tendons as well as cause excessive outward rotation (supination).
Running and exercise can be great ways to shed weight and boost overall health, but without proper precautions it can lead to injury. Avoid overtraining by taking breaks when necessary and using ice and analgesics as needed in order to reduce inflammation – these measures should ensure a safe return to exercise routines.
Warming up with stretching exercises before exercising can reduce the risk of shin splints. Furthermore, investing in properly fitting shoes that can support hard surfaces is also recommended to lower risk.
Achilles tendonitis
Achilles Tendinitis (AT) is a condition in which your lower leg tendons — specifically Achilles tendon — become inflamed and irritated, restricting your ability to exercise but usually improving with rest and treatment. AT can limit how often and intensely you exercise; it should improve over time though.
The Achilles tendon is a long band of tissue connecting your calf muscles to your heel bone, used when walking, running and jumping and an essential element in overall running performance. Achilles tendinitis can occur if training distance or intensity increases too quickly without proper stretching before exercise and wearing shoes with poor arch support – symptoms include back leg or calf pain as well as swelling and stiffness; taking over-the-counter painkillers such as Advil/ Motrin IB/ Aleve can reduce inflammation while alleviating discomfort while relieving symptoms faster than ever.
Plantar fasciitis
This condition is caused by inflammation of a thick band of tissue on the bottom of your foot known as the plantar fascia. Pain usually manifests itself in either the heel or arch of your foot and may increase during prolonged sitting or standing sessions. Flat feet or high arches tend to experience greater symptoms; wearing shoes without sufficient cushioning could exacerbate their pain further.
Step one in treating plantar fasciitis is rest. This could involve taking a break from running or walking, or switching sports that put less strain on your foot.
Applying ice to the affected area on multiple occasions daily will help to reduce swelling and alleviate pain caused by plantar fasciitis.
Achilles tendon rupture
The Achilles tendon can rupture under excessive force. This typically happens in activities requiring large push off movements like jumping and pivoting; other risk factors include having flat feet, being overweight or taking certain medications (including steroids ).
Doctors can diagnose a ruptured Achilles by conducting an exam of your leg and performing several diagnostic tests such as calf muscle compressions or watching for foot flexes. Ultrasound or MRI imaging tests may also be utilized in order to assess the extent of injury as well as rule out other possible injuries. Treatment options will depend on age, activity level and the severity of rupture; many individuals who suffer a full rupture opt for surgery as the only viable treatment solution.
Calf strain
Calf pain can be caused by muscle strains – when the lower leg muscles have become overstretched due to overexertion. Mild strains may be treated at home, while more serious strains require medical intervention. Calf strain is frequently caused by sports such as tennis or soccer that involve sudden bursts of speed with foot pushoff, potentially overstretching or tearing gastrocnemius and soleus muscles and leading to “tennis leg,” an injury which ranges from minor bruises up to major tears in these muscles – similar effects can also occur during these activities which require sudden bursts of speed to achieve.
Physical therapists are skilled professionals who can assess your calf injury and suggest treatments to speed its recovery process. In addition, they may conduct gait analyses that analyze foot strike and stride length to identify any problems that could be contributing to calf pain when running.
