Leg Injuries and Disorders

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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.

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)
Leg Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Femur (Upper Leg) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Lower Leg (Tibia and Fibula) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Living With

MedlinePlus: Mobility Aids - Canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs Also in Spanish

Specifics

Achilles Tendon Rupture (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Broken Leg (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Buerger's Disease (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Claudication (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Femur Shaft Fractures (Broken Thighbone) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - PDF
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Leg Swelling (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Lymphedema (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Meralgia Paresthetica (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Night Leg Cramps (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Peripheral Arterial Disease and Claudication (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - PDF
Shin Splints (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Sprains and Strains (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Thrombophlebitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fractures (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - PDF
Troyer Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
What Is the Difference between Pseudoclaudication and Claudication? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Images

Stasis Ulcer (Logical Images)

Health Check Tools

Burning Sensation of the Extremities (DSHI Systems)
Calf Pain (DSHI Systems)
Leg Cramps (DSHI Systems)
Leg Injury (DSHI Systems)
Leg Pain (DSHI Systems)
Leg Swelling (Both Legs) (DSHI Systems)
Leg Swelling (One Leg) (DSHI Systems)
Leg Weakness (DSHI Systems)
Numbness of the Arm and Leg (DSHI Systems)
Numbness of the Leg (DSHI Systems)
Tingling of the Leg (DSHI Systems)

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 ArticlesReferences 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)
Intoeing (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Leg lengthening - slideshow Also in Spanish
Pediatric Thighbone (Femur) Fracture (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - PDF
What a Pain! Kids and Growing Pains (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Femur (Upper Leg) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Lower Leg (Tibia and Fibula) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Blount Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

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