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Lower Leg, Shin, Achilles & Ankle Pain

If you are not sure what your injury is why not try our lower leg and ankle pain symptom checker?

Below we outline the more common causes of ankle pain, shin pain and calf pain including shin splints, calf strain, achilles tendinitis ankle sprains and a broken leg. Lower leg and ankle injuries are either acute sudden onset injuries such as an ankle sprain or they may come on gradually through over use or poor foot biomechanics. We explain the symptoms, treatment and rehabilitation of common lower leg sports injuries as well as exercises to strengthen and prevent injury. Test your knowledge with out ankle and shin pain quiz.

Shin pain

Shin splints is not an Shin pain injury in itself but is a general term for pain in the shin which may come from a number of causes.

Symptoms of the various conditions include pain and inflammation on the lower third of the shin bone. We explain the common causes of medial tibial shin pain as well as shin splint treatment programs and exercises.

Anterior shin splints is pain on the outside of the shin often caused by a compartment syndrome in the big tibialis anterior muscle.

Achilles tendon pain

Achilles tendonitis is an over use injury causing pain and inflammation Achilles pain over the achilles tendon at the back of the lower leg. Symptoms include a redness and thickening of the achilles tendon. Achilles tendinopathy is the name given to describe a range of conditions which give similar symptoms to achilles tendinitis including degeneration of the achilles tendon and inflammation of the sheath surrounding the achilles tendon. Our achilles tendinitis treatment program takes you through rehabilitation including achilles tendon taping, sports massage, achilles stretching and strengthening exercises.

Ankle sprain

A sprained ankle is probably the most common sports injury that causes ankle pain. Once injured an ankle sprain is likely to recur but it doesn't have to be that way.

We explain how to properly treat and rehabilitate and ankle sprain in the shortest possible time as well as ankle exercises, ankle braces and ankle taping which will help avoid future ankle injuries recurring.

We also have a number of wobble board exercises which should help prevent further injury.

Calf pain

A calf strain is a tear of the one of the muscles, usually the big Gastrocnemuis muscle at the back of the lower leg. Calf strains are graded 1,2 or 3 depend on how severe they are. We look at the symptoms, treatment and exercises to help rehabilitate a calf strain.

Another cause of calf pain at the back of the lower leg is a compartment syndrome. This is when the muscle becomes too big for the sheath that surrounds it increasing pressure within the muscle and causing pain.

A Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT is a blood clot in a vein. A DVT, although a rare cause of calf pain is a serious and potentially life threatening condition that should not be misdiagnosed. It is more common in the legs, especially after a period of inactivity such as during a long haul plan flight. Symptoms include a constant pain in the calf muscles with tenderness and swelling at a deep point in the muscle.

Fractures

Broken leg Leg fractures can occur to either of the tibia or fibula bones in the lower leg usually through physical contact or some kind of accident. A fibula fracture is a break to the smaller of the two lower leg bones on the outside of the shin and can be caused by a direct impact, or from a stress fracture and overuse. The fibula can also fracture as a result of a bad eversion ankle sprain where the foot turns in violently.

A stress fracture is a hairline fracture usually in the tibia shin bone. Symptoms are similar to that of shin splints and a tibia stress fracture will not show up on an X-ray until after it has started to heal. A broken ankle is a fracture of any of the bones which form the ankle joint, including the Tibia, Fibula and Talus.

Bursitis

A bursa is a small sack of fluid which is found in joints between a tendon and bone. Its purpose is to lubricate the tendon allowing it to move freely. Through overuse a bursa can become inflamed and swollen causing pain. Achilles bursitis is inflammation of the bursa at the back of the heel. Pain will be felt at the back of the heel along with a spongy swelling. This is also known as retrocalcaneal bursitis. When achilles bursitis occurs at the same time as achilles tendonitis this is known as Haglunds syndrome.