Leg Pain
Medical Author:
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEMDr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Pulled Hamstring: A Pain Real Pain in the Leg!Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Pulled hamstrings often happen on the playing field because the athlete is trying to push the body to perform to its maximum capacity while sprinting or jumping. For the rest of us, a pulled hamstring happens because we don't prepare for the routine activities of the day like walking or climbing steps. As we age (one risk factor), we lose flexibility (another risk factor), and we tend to lose general muscle strength and fitness, and are more susceptible to fatigue (adding even more risks). Top Searched Leg Pain Terms
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Leg Pain OverviewWhile leg pain is a common occurrence after an injury, there are many nontraumatic causes of leg pain. Pain in the legs may be present because of conditions that affect bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves, and skin. Most often, inflammation of tissues is the end result of these diseases, and the inflammation is the source of pain. Back ailments may also present with leg pain. Anatomy of the Leg The structure of the leg begins with the skeleton. The large bones of the leg are the femur (thighbone) and the tibia and fibula of the shin. Smaller bones are found in the feet and toes, and the kneecap (patella) is also a bone found in the leg. Major joints include the hip, knee, and ankle, but the small joints in the feet and toes also are important since they help support the body and cushion the force that is generated by walking. The joints are stabilized by thick bands of tissue called ligaments. The ends of a bone that make up part of a joint are covered with cartilage to help them glide through their range of motion and decrease the friction of bone rubbing on bone. Muscles attach to bone and have tendons that stretch across a joint. When a muscle contracts, the joint moves. Major muscle groups that affect leg movement include the buttocks, the quadriceps (in the front of the thigh), the hamstrings (in the back of the thigh), and the gastrocnemius (in the back of the calf). There are other smaller muscles, including those in the foot, that help stabilize the multiple joints in the feet. There are two sets of blood vessels in the leg. The arterial system delivers blood, rich with oxygen, from the heart. The venous system drains blood from the leg and returns it to the heart, allowing tissue like muscle to get rid of carbon dioxide and other waste products of metabolism. Nerves from the spinal cord supply information to the leg, transmitting signals from the brain that allow purposeful movement. They also return information or sensations to the brain. These include the sensations of pain, light touch, pressure, temperature, and position. Illness and injury can affect any of these structures, causing inflammation, discomfort, and pain. More than one mechanism as a cause of the leg pain may occur at the same time. Some examples include the following:
Picture of the muscle and nerve anatomy of the leg 
Viewer Comments & ReviewsLeg Pain - CausesThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What was the cause of leg pain? Leg Pain - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What was the treatment for your leg pain? |
One moment the runner is gliding down the track; the next he is collapsed in
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Leg Pain
Hip Pain Overview
The hip joint attaches the leg to the torso of the body. In the hip joint, the head of the thighbone (femur) swivels in a socket, called the acetabulum, that is made up of pelvic bones. While many causes of hip pain can arise from the joint itself, there are numerous structures surrounding the hip that can also be the source of pain.
Trauma is often the cause of hip pain, but any source of inflammation may cause pain in the hip area. Pain is one of the symptoms of inflammation, along with swelling, warmth, and redness; together these are signals that a problem may exist.
Hip Pain Causes
Pain can arise from structures that are within the hip joint or from structures surrounding the hip. The hip joint is a potential space, meaning that there is a minimal amount of fluid inside it to allow the femoral head to glide in the socket of the acetabulum. Any illness or injury that causes inflammation will ...
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