Leg Injuries and Disorders

On this page

Summary

Your legs are made up of bones, blood vessels, muscles, and other connective tissue. They are important for motion and standing. Playing sports, running, falling, or having an accident can damage your legs. Common leg injuries include sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and fractures (broken bones).

These injuries can affect the entire leg, or just the foot, ankle, knee, or hip. Certain diseases also lead to leg problems. For example, knee osteoarthritis, common in older people, can cause pain and limited motion. Problems in your veins in your legs can lead to varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis.

Start Here

Leg Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Ankle-Brachial Index (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Leg Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Femur (Upper Leg) (Nemours Foundation)
X-Ray Exam: Leg Length (Nemours Foundation)
X-Ray Exam: Lower Leg (Tibia and Fibula) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Living With

Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

What Are Sports Injuries? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Specifics

Achilles Tendon Rupture (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Broken Leg (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Buerger's Disease (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Claudication (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Femur Shaft Fractures (Broken Thighbone) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Leg Swelling (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Lymphedema (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Meralgia Paresthetica (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Night Leg Cramps (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Peripheral Arterial Disease and Claudication (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Shin Splints (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Thrombophlebitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fractures (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Troyer Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Images

Stasis Ulcer (VisualDX)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Intermittent Claudication (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Leg Injuries (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Leg Length Inequality (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Leg Ulcer (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Muscle Cramp (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

Bowlegs and Knock-Knees (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Growing Pains (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Growth Plate Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
Intoeing (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Knock Knees (Genu Valgum) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
Leg lengthening - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
What a Pain! Kids and Growing Pains (Nemours Foundation)

Teenagers

Blount Disease (Nemours Foundation)

Patient Handouts

Blount disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Bowlegs (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Common peroneal nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Femoral nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Femur fracture repair - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Iliotibial band syndrome -- aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Ischemic ulcers -- self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Knock knees (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Leg pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Shin splints - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Tarsal tunnel syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Venous insufficiency (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish