Either way, if you can't connect the discomfort with any particular cause, it's always best to err on the side of caution and consult a medical professional for a diagnosis. Aubrey Bailey is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with an additional degree in psychology and board certification in hand therapy. It may last for a few seconds or minutes, but it usually goes away without intervention. The saying "no pain, no gain" should really be "no consistent effort, no gain" — at least when it comes to stretching. Irritation of a nerve is usually described as a sharp pain. There and then gone. Those are all examples of how limited flexibility can affect your freedom of movement and quality of life. It's also possible that the sharp pain you feel in a muscle while stretching is a pre-existing injury that you didn't notice until you put the muscle under tension. Calf pain often comes from a calf strain, which basically means you have torn calf muscle fibers in the lower leg. It can cause a shooting sharp pain in right … Next, rest the pulled muscle for at least a day. This can help you rule out other potential causes of your pain. 2021 See Types of Sciatic Nerve Pain. Pain usually increases when you move the muscle, but it is relieved by rest. The pain of leg cramps can be mild to severe. The material appearing on LIVESTRONG.COM is for educational use only. Fracture. and Read more: Gain Flexibility Fast With These 9 New Stretches. The pain may worsen with pressure, which can make it difficult to walk or climb the stairs. Fierce. Gain Flexibility Fast With These 9 New Stretches, 10 Stretches That Will Make You Feel Like a New Person, American Council on Exercise: "Flexibility Exercises for Beginners", American Council on Exercise: "10 Reasons You Should Be Stretching", Health.gov: "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020: Appendix 1. A gentle stretching program for the legs and lower back will help. The doctor then performs a physical examination, which may include checking the pulse and testing the person’s musculoskeletal and neurological functioning. Any type of exercise that encourages you to put your muscles through a full range of motion — or gently extend that range, at most pushing only to the point of tension but not pain — can be helpful. But even then, you're not done — if you're doing a unilateral (one-sided) stretch you should repeat it on the other side, and then repeat the stretch for a total of three to five times. Leaf Group Ltd. We also look at treatments and when to see a doctor. Diabetic neuropathy is a long-term complication of diabetes, and it involves nerve damage. The American Council on Exercise lists 10 very good reasons to incorporate stretching into your regular fitness routine. Leg pain can be constant or intermittent, develop suddenly or gradually, and affect your entire leg or a localized area, such as your shin or your knee. 2. Known also as the Lasegue’s Sign, the straight leg test stretches the sciatic nerve to look for the source of your pain. Female, 66 years old. If you're convinced that the sharp pain when stretching an arm, leg or any other body part was the start of your injury, there are several common mistakes that might have led to it: Stretching for flexibility is some of the gentlest exercise you can hope for, so the idea of warming up beforehand might seem counterintuitive. Atherosclerosis can lead to peripheral artery disease (PAD), which involves the narrowing of arteries that serve the lower body. Copyright © A doctor may refer to this as intermittent leg pain. During a long bike ride, I felt a sharp pain in my left rib, I actually thought for a moment it was a heart issue. Sharp leg pain can manifest anywhere from the hips to the ankles, and it may be caused by direct trauma to leg structures, certain medical conditions of the lower extremity or pain that originates from the lower back. Privacy Policy The exact causes are unclear, but muscle fatigue is one factor that may contribute. Doing static stretches (i.e., reach into the stretch; then hold it) with already-warm muscles is a great way to develop your flexibility. As the Mayo Clinic explains, this can mean an injury to your muscle or to the tendons that connect your muscles to the bone — the same as a "pulled muscle" caused by too-strenuous exercise. PAD can cause sharp leg pains that come and go with leg activity. She is a former American College of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer and currently works as a Level 1 CrossFit coach. Sit on the floor with both legs straight in front of you. Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve. Leg pain commonly occurs more in the calf region below the knee compared to other parts of the leg. For example, the best way to treat a leg cramp is to stretch the muscle and hold the stretch until the symptoms ease. The pain of sciatica is usually sharp and shooting, “like a lightning bolt down the back of the leg,” Boissonnault said. A doctor might recommend lifestyle changes, such as: If inflammation is a factor, it can help to apply an ice pack to the area. I looked at the symptoms for Retrocalcaneal Bursitis, but the location doesn't seem right. used as a substitute for professional medical advice, I am 51 years old and in very good health. Stretching isn't supposed to hurt. But doing five to 10 minutes of gentle activity before you stretch does literally warm your muscles up, increasing blood flow and decreasing your risk of injury. If you’re feeling a “stretch” in your lower leg or foot during a hamstring stretch, you are most likely experiencing neurogenic symptoms arising from the sciatic nerve. Once three days have passed, they recommend either heat or ice if you still have pain. https://www.livestrong.com › article › 384146-sharp-pain-while-stretching According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, leg pain can be dull, aching, shock-like, cramp-like or burning. All rights reserved. This enables us to walk, shift our weight from one foot to another, and maintain balance. One simple way to determine if it is sciatica is with the straight leg test. Causes of sharp, shooting pain in the leg that comes and goes advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. Achilles Tendonitis also does not seem correct, the pain is at the bottom/back of the heel not higher up where the achilles tendon attaches. When the condition becomes even more severe, numbness can also develop, as can weakness, foot drop, and other issues that impede mobility. Foot Overlap. However, stretching all your major muscle groups two or three times a week can help change that. 6. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans", PARTNER & LICENSEE OF THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION. It involves Rest, Ice,... Compresses. If your symptoms don't improve with home treatment, if your pain becomes intolerable or if it presents with numbness or tingling, see a medical professional. Heart disease risk associated with eating fried foods, Diabetes treatment may protect against COVID-19 mortality. This pain may be felt when you are inactive or active. Sharp, shooting pain in the leg may result from a cramp, an injury, or nerve damage. I have recently started having sharp stabbing pain in my lower right leg above my ankle (but not ankle in leg). What can science tell us about mediums who hear voices? The doctor may also check for any other changes, by taking the person’s blood pressure, for example. They may also ask how the pain feels, how frequently it occurs, and whether there are any triggers, such as walking. This tendon … It can result when high blood sugar levels go unchecked for long periods. Read more: 10 Stretches That Will Make You Feel Like a New Person. The pain is usually more severe in the leg compared to the back. tingling and numbness in the legs or back, slowing of wound healing in the legs or feet, loss of hair on the limbs, hands, or feet, limiting the intake of alcohol, if applicable. They can also determine whether severe or persistent pain results from an underlying condition, such as PAD. The damage sometimes affects the nerves that run down the legs, causing pain in the area. Muscle strain. Learn more here. diagnosis or treatment. Shin Splints. Some causes of leg pain, such as cramps and minor muscle injuries, do not require medical care. It can take a number of forms — stabbing, sharp, dull, aching or tingling. Leg Aches After Stretching. I work in an office and do sit for long periods of time. It may be felt as a stabbing, aching, tingling, dull, or sharp pain. How does fake news of 5G and COVID-19 spread worldwide? Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that affects a range of nerves in the bodies of some people with diabetes. Even though it doesn't appear in those recommendations, flexibility is an important component of fitness. Muscle pain and tenderness, especially after an activity that stretches or violently contracts the muscle. Unless you're getting mighty creative with your stretching, the relatively low loads on your muscles mean your strain is likely to be closer to the mild end of the scale — and the Mayo Clinic notes that mild strains can be treated at home. When compressed, it can cause pain, numbness, and tingling that starts in the lower back and can stretch down the leg to the calf. Post #1 of 10 (32290 views) I have a sharp pain the back of my heel when I stretch the hamstring in my right leg. Symptoms of a strained leg muscle can include: 1. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. But what about stretching? Local muscle swelling, black and blue discoloration or both 3. What this pain shares in common is an injury to a nerve -- an irritation, inflammation, pinching or … Other symptoms might include: The following are potential causes of sharp, shooting leg pain that comes and goes: Cramps are sudden, shooting muscle pains, often in the calves, hamstrings, or quadriceps. The pain may occur with cramping, which may spread to the hips. Other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can include: A doctor diagnoses the cause of intermittent leg pain by asking about symptoms. And not just any nerve: Sciatica affects the sciatic nerve, the longest, widest nerve in your body. In some cases, intermittent leg pain accompanies a numb, tingling sensation. In other cases, a doctor may prescribe medications to reduce inflammation and treat the pain. She's also a professional writer. It should not be I feel twenty years younger except that about two months after the last surgery, I developed episodes of severe stabbing pain in my right foot. The symptoms usually go away on their own as the area heals. A minor strain can mean that you've simply overstretched part of this tissue, while a more severe strain can result in a partial or complete rupture. While intermittent leg pain is rarely a medical emergency, contact a healthcare professional immediately if the pain is severe or if blood circulation in the leg seems to be limited or cut off. While cramps and minor injuries tend to heal on their own, it is a good idea to see a doctor about severe or persistent pain. Lumbar radiculopathy, also known as sciatica, happens when the pinched nerve is in the lower back. You can follow certain steps to prevent or minimize leg pain that results from stretching. It can cause sharp, shooting pain that moves down the legs. Pain. MedlinePlus explains the first aid protocol you can use at home for a muscle strain: Apply ice right away to reduce swelling; do this for 10 to 15 minutes on the hour in the first day, then every three or four hours for the next two days. Knee pain may be felt at the time of injury, usually from twisting awkwardly and is then followed by … Atherosclerosis, for example, occurs when fatty substances called plaques harden in the arteries, causing them to narrow. Other symptoms include: Certain health issues that affect the heart can cause leg pain. But that's not the only way to encourage greater freedom and range of motion. A tibial plateau fracture involves the shinbone and … Damage to bones, muscles, tendons, fascia and even nerves can lead to heel pain. any of the products or services that are advertised on the web site. If you hurt it while stretching, that does mean no more stretching — or at least not the same type and intensity of stretching — or anything else that causes pain. Atherosclerosis, or arteriosclerosis, happens when plaque collects and causes the arteries to narrow and harden, affecting blood flow. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM It is also used in sports that involve lifting and rotating the th… MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. A fracture can cause sudden knee pain. The pain may accompany other symptoms, such as muscle weakness or numbness. In most other cases, remaining physically active and stretching the leg can be helpful. Imagine a life where you can't reach your feet to tie your shoes, lift your leg high enough to step over a low railing or work out at peak efficiency without pulling a muscle. Each leg should be slightly bent. Not sure about that last one? If your heel hurts when stretching your leg, there could be many causes. This is injury or inflammation of the tendon at the calf of your foot. In some cases, the pain goes away without professional treatment. Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web site-many of the The most commonly cited guidelines for exercise come from the Department of Health and Human Services. Back of Heel Burning Pain When Stretching | … This might worsen when putting pressure on the leg, such as by walking. Lisa is a retired personal trainer with more than 4,000 hours of hands-on experience working with a variety of clients, from sports teams to weight loss and post-rehab populations. Keeping the leg elevated and resting it may keep the issue from worsening, and compression bandages can also help with inflammation. The treatment for leg pain depends on its cause. Some of the earliest exercise videos showed the trainers bouncing cheerily in the stretch position, urging you to push it a little further every time. If you feel a sharp pain in a muscle when stretching, it's a clue that you've either uncovered a pre-existing injury or pushed yourself too far, too fast. These include reduced stress, less pain and stiffness, better range of motion, lower risk of injury, improved blood flow and circulation, and overall better quality of life. Warm Bath. Piriformis syndrome is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder that is caused when the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve. You can "cheat" a bit — although it's really not cheating at all — by doing your stretching sessions at the end of your normal workouts, when your muscles are already warm. There may be a need for further testing, which might include medical imaging, such as an MRI. Physical therapy is another option for improving flexibility and strength in the leg. Sciatic nerve pain can be very severe. Radiculopathy refers to a pinched nerve in the spine causing a range of symptoms throughout the body. . When you stretch to the point of real pain, you're inviting an injury. The piriformis muscle is a flat, band-like muscle located in the buttocks near the top of the hip joint. This muscle is important in lower body movement because it stabilizes the hip joint and lifts and rotates the thigh away from the body. This pain can occur between 6 and 7 times a day. It can lead to paralysis and might have…, © 2004-2021 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Sometimes there are no symptoms, but other times they may include: swelling pain tenderness a warm sensation a pale or bluish discoloration The pain is usually described as a burning sensation or a sharp, shooting pain. And finally, wait until the muscle no longer hurts before you gently reintroduce activity. You feel a sharp pain in your buttocks and lower back, and you may wonder if it is sciatica. While leg stretching can be included with the healing treatments for leg pain, stretching can also cause leg pain in some cases. Sciatic Nerve Pain. In more severe cases, calf pain can be the result of a blood clot. Terms of Use I had both knees and a hip replaced within two and a half years. 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