Have a Sports-Related Leg Injury? Find Help Here.
Athletes and active people that engage in activities that involve repetitive running and jumping often develop leg injuries, including calf muscle injuries, tibial stress fractures and chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
More Resources to Get Better
What are the symptoms of chronic exertional compartment syndrome?
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is a difficult problem for runners and running athletes. It can keep them from training. In this Ask Dr. Geier video, I discuss this common problem and its usual symptoms.
Recovery from chronic exertional compartment syndrome
In this Ask Dr. Geier video, I explain basic recovery and return to daily activities and school for a difficult problem in runners – chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
Healing of tibial stress fractures
In this post, I answer the question of a reader in Kansas City who asks about the healing of one of the most difficult stress fractures – a tibial stress fracture.
The Serious Injury Checklist
Do you know the one question you should ask yourself to know if you should see a doctor?
Ask Dr. Geier: Fractures and Stress Fractures
How to get rid of pain, anxiety and frustration from your stress fracture.
Ask Dr. Geier: Overuse Muscle and Tendon Injuries
How to get rid of pain, anxiety and frustration from your muscle or tendon injury.
Books
That’s Gotta Hurt
The Injuries That Changed Sports Forever
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
Get the BookFrequently Asked Questions on Leg Injuries
- Could I have a serious leg injury from sports?
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-Could I have a serious leg injury from sports?
Whether you suffer a traumatic injury in sports or exercise or your pain developed over a period of time, there are several signs and symptoms that could suggest your leg pain could represent a serious injury. These include difficulty bearing weight on the leg, a significant amount of swelling or bruising of the calf or pain that keeps getting worse over time. - What are the common leg injuries in sports?
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-What are the common leg injuries in sports?
Some of the common traumatic injuries of the leg include gastrocnemius calf muscle strains and tibia fractures. The common overuse injuries in this region include tibial stress fractures, medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) and chronic exertional compartment syndrome. - Should I go to a doctor or ER for my sports-related leg injury?
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-Should I go to a doctor or ER for my sports-related leg injury?
Most orthopedic injuries, especially those that occur in sports and exercise, that require urgent treatment in an emergency room result from a traumatic event. These are some of the signs and symptoms that suggest you might go to an emergency department for your injury: the bone is crooked or out of place, the injured area is very swollen, or the bone is poking through the skin. You might also have trouble bearing weight, have bleeding that won’t stop, have signs of a nerve injury, or your pain is unbearable. - Do I need x-rays or an MRI for my leg injury?
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-Do I need x-rays or an MRI for my leg injury?
X-rays only show bones, while MRIs show soft-tissue structures like muscles, tendons and ligaments. Many people – and some doctors – believe that a leg injury is automatically calf muscle or Achilles tendon tear, which wouldn’t show up on an x-ray. X-rays can be important, though, to demonstrate stress fractures and other causes of pain.