If you’ve recently increased your walking time or have started a running program, it’s likely your leg muscles and associated tendons and structures have experienced an increase in load, putting them at greater risk of injury.
Having lower leg pain when you’re walking or running is a common occurrence and most of the time it may not be a sign of a serious injury. However, when the pain doesn’t subside and continues to hinder your activity, while preventing you from reaching your desired goals, then it’s time that you will need to seek help.
So how can I tell if my leg pain is a serious injury?
We see lots of people with leg pain and will pose the following questions to investigate when presented at the clinic:
- How long has the pain been there? If the pain has been ongoing for days and weeks then it’s likely you’ve sustained an injury
- Does the pain impact your normal activities? If your leg pain impacts your daily activities such as walking, bending, kneeling, or usual work demands then it’s a sign the pain is significant and needs to be addressed
- Are there any physical changes in the area of pain? If you notice swelling, redness, or heat at the area of pain then it’s very likely you have a serious leg injury.
Below is a list of what may be contributing to your leg pain:
- Biomechanical factors (posture and gait patterns)
- Poor footwear choices
- Training mistakes
- Poor strength and conditioning
How can The Footcare Clinic help me recover from leg pain?
It is crucial for injuries to be detected early so that you can begin a treatment program in the early phase of the injury. This ensures that it gets better quickly and effectively, so you can get back to doing what you love.
Below are just some of the ways that we can help with your rehabilitation:
- Provide manual therapy for any muscle tightness or stiffness contributing to the leg pain
- Give you a structured training and load management program
- Give you a customised strength program
- Address any biomechanical factors that are contributing to your injury
- Assess your footwear and give you recommendations on what’s best for you
Though your leg injury may not inhibit you much, if it lingers on, it’s important for you to address the root cause of the problem. When you can find the primary reason for your pain, you can only then prevent the problem from getting worse.
We’re living through unprecedented times where keeping the body and mind in tip-top shape is more important than ever, so please take good care of yourself and don’t ignore niggles and pains your body is telling you about.
Leave me a comment below if you have any questions or if you’d like to book an appointment with our team at The Footcare Clinic you can book online or contact us on 9711 7562.
