The lower leg

The leg section between the knee and the foot is called the lower leg. Its bony base is formed by the tibia and the fibula, which are connected by a relatively rigid joint in the region of the knee and in a band-like joint at the bottom of the ankle. The fibula is located on the back, with the tibia forming the front of the lower leg, with the tibia hardly covered by muscles in the front. Above the fibula, the calf muscles clearly appear on the back. The lower leg fascia encloses as connective tissue the entire muscles, nerves and vessels of the lower leg. The individual muscle groups are separated from each other here by the fascia.

The most common complaint in the area of ​​the lower leg are calf pain, the most common cause of which is calf cramps. They are caused by an excessive muscle tone (muscle tension) and can occur, for example, in case of muscle overload or magnesium deficiency. Leg cramps usually last only a few minutes, but can occur repeatedly within a short period of time. Anyone who regularly suffers from calf cramps, should have this checked by a doctor, as even more serious impairments, such as nerve or vascular disease, can be behind the complaints.

Calf pain also forms a leading symptom of leg vein or calf vein thrombosis (closure of the leg veins by a blood clot). In such cases, swelling of the lower leg and feet, overheating and discoloration as well as tense skin and pain that may range from the foot to the calf to the popliteal fossa, are other striking warning signs. In the worst case threaten with thrombosis life-threatening complications, which is why seek appropriate advice promptly a doctor or hospital.

Also caused by impairments of the blood vessels is the so-called peripheral arterial occlusive disease. It is usually associated with arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and affects the arterial blood supply in the legs in the majority of patients. Typical symptoms are pain, stress and a poorly supplied, cold and pale skin. However, the symptoms usually show up only when the disease is already at an advanced stage. As peripheral artery disease is associated with an increased risk of severe cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, therapeutic countermeasures should urgently be initiated.

Other lower leg complaints include compartment syndrome and shin splints syndrome. The former is caused by an increased pressure on the tissue within the so-called muscle lodges, which arises when, for example, due to a muscle crushing or fracture use swelling and the surrounding fascia can not expand correspondingly. The increased pressure results in a reduction in tissue perfusion and damage to the muscles and nerves. The tissue begins to die and irreparable damage can occur after a short time. Excessive training can also be the cause of compartment syndrome if it causes the muscles to grow faster than the fascia can expand.

The shin splints syndrome is characterized by pain on the front of the lower leg, which are usually associated with increased stress such as during long-distance running or other sporting activities. The cause of shin pain can also be periostitis or inflammation at the base of the muscle tendon. Although shin-edge syndrome usually does not pose a major health risk, therapy may take up to six weeks, and sufferers may be severely limited in their daily lives during this time. (Fp)

lower leg

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