Knee and calf pain can keep you from doing many of the activities that you love, such as playing sports. However, many of the activities that you do while working, relaxing, working out or just as part of your daily routine can actually cause these types of pain. 

Lower leg injuries that cause pain are fairly common among adult Americans. For instance, it’s reported that about 33% of all running injuries in long-distance runners occur in the lower leg. Dealing with a lower leg issue can be much easier with help from a physical therapist. These specialists can help you figure out what activities may be the source of your knee and calf pain. They can help you find effective treatment for your lower leg pain as well. 

Three activities that may be causing your knee and calf pain:

1. Running — Going for a run is one of the top forms of exercise in the U.S. Statistics show that in 2017, nearly 56 million Americans participated in running, jogging or trail running. This activity can be good for your health, but it can also trigger knee and calf pain, especially if you: 

• Don’t warm up before a run and stretch afterward. 
• Increase distance or intensity too quickly. 
• Have a gait issue. 
• Wear worn-out or poorly fitting shoes. 

2. Sitting — This isn’t an activity that most people would associate with knee and calf discomfort, but it can play a role in these issues. For one thing, too much sitting can contribute to a weakening of your leg and core muscles. Sitting in one position for hours can also leave your leg muscles tight. Both of these issues may increase your likelihood of developing lower leg pain. 

3. Climbing stairs — Active professions, such as being a delivery driver, can have you climbing stairs often. Doing this activity can place a lot of stress on your knees and calves. The stress can lead to an injury like a calf muscle strain, and it could also contribute to joint wear and tear that leads to knee osteoarthritis. 

How can physical therapists help treat your knee and calf pain?

Knee and calf conditions are just a few of the musculoskeletal disorders that physical therapists are trained to treat. These specialists have many techniques that they can use to treat discomfort in these areas of the lower leg. Some of these techniques include: 

• Therapeutic exercises that can stretch and strengthen the muscles in your thighs and lower legs. 

• Manual therapy designed to reduce tension and improve flexibility in your lower leg muscles. 

• Aquatic therapy that uses the natural properties of water to ease pain and increase strength. 

Find help for your knee and calf pain at Rehab Access

Ready to find effective treatment for your knee and calf pain? Our Rehab Access Physical Therapy team is primed to help you treat your lower leg pain. We offer free screenings that can reveal the source of your pain. In addition, our physical therapists excel at building therapy plans that are personalized to each patient’s needs and goals. Such a plan can offer benefits like: 

• Reducing pain. 
• Improving muscle strength and flexibility. 
• Increasing your ability to do normal daily activities. 
• Decreasing your risk of future lower leg issues. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat your lower leg discomfort or to schedule your initial appointment.