Why does my leg ache?
There are lots of different reason as to why you are suffering from aching legs. Here is a list of the top 10 reasons why most people suffer from tired aching legs.
Muscle cramps
Tight, constant and abrupt leg cramps are quite often than not brought on by muscle fatigue, heat or dehydration. Muscle cramps are usually more prevalent among the elderly as well as athletes who do not properly warm up before vigorous exercise involving their legs. Generally, you are able to relieve muscle cramps simply by stopping whatever caused them. Sometimes, lightly stretching or massaging your lower leg muscle can help. Heat compression on tight muscles or cold to tender muscles can also help with some symptoms. Making sure to properly stretch your muscles before exercise can help prevent muscles cramps in future.
Shin Splints
Shin Splints is the medical name for exercise-induced pain in lower legs, this injury often occurs when connective tissues and muscles on the edge of the shin bone get inflamed. This kind of injury quite often arises following running or jumping activities on hard surfaces such as concrete flooring, or form playing sports that consist of abrupt twisting and stopping and starting, such as football or tennis. The repeated pressure can overload your muscles and tendons surrounding your shin bone causing it to become inflamed. If you have Flat feet you are more likely to develop shin splints as excessive outward rotation of the foot and leg can place extra strain on your shins. Pain often disappears with rest. You can quicken your recovery by applying ice compression to your shins, by taking anti-inflammatory medication and avoiding any situation that can cause strain and pressure on the shins. After the pain goes away you should do leg stretching exercises to help strengthen your lower legs and prevent the injury from reoccurring. You should also make sure to wear supportive orthotic shoes or shock-absorbing insoles that will help to better protect and support your shins. Avoiding running on hard surfaces such as concrete is also a good idea.
Injured tendons or muscles
One of the main causes of pain in the legs is because of an injured tendon or muscle. Tendonitis is the most common form of tendon injury and can cause discomfort in the lower calf or back of the heel. Injured tendons and muscles in your legs can occur after strenuous activity and not warming up properly beforehand. This can cause the tendon to become inflamed and overstretched. Applying ice compression to the affected leg and wearing orthopedic supportive shoes can help to lessen tension on tendons may help with your recovery. Just like shin splints, make sure to wait until pain reduces to stretch and strengthen your leg. If you have severe leg pain it can be a sign that your Achilles tendon has ruptured. If this is the case then you should seek immediate medical advice.
Broken bone or sprained joint
A broken bone or sprain to your knee or ankle may also cause leg pain. With mild sprains, you should try to rest your affected leg, apply ice, compression and elevate your leg. If you are suffering from a more severe sprain or fracture, make sure to seek medical advice as soon as possible. A doctor may prescribe to you a cast or support brace to help with your recovery. You may even require physiotherapy to further increase movement and boost your recovery. Eventually, you should regain strength in your legs to support the weakened bone or joint.
Narrowed spinal canal (stenosis) and sciatica
A not uncommon cause of a narrowed spinal canal is arthritis of the spine. Often a herniated disc places pressure upon surrounding nerve roots, this can result in symptoms of sciatica include weakness, instability, fatigue, numbness, tingling as well as leg cramp and pain when standing or sitting. Pain can start in your back and hip then gradually progress down into your leg. Unlike other causes of leg pain Sciatica in many instances doesn’t improve just by resting your legs. Treatment may also consist of a brief period of rest, using taking anti-inflammatory and painkillers, as needed. Physiotherapy and stretching exercises can also help as well as applying cold and heat compression to the affected area can also help ease symptoms. If you have this condition your Doctor may also suggest other therapies or surgery if other treatments do not work.
Blood clot or DVT
If you have a blood clot that happens within a vein deep then this is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Just about all deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. You are more likely to develop DVT when you are sedentary for long periods of time, smoke or require prescription drugs that raise the risk of blood clots. Blood clots can be life-threatening. In the event that you suspect that you have a blood clot, you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Wearing shoes and socks that do not restrict blood flow is one way to combat against getting blood clots.
Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease
Just like the heart, the lining of arteries within your legs can become damaged and narrowed this can, in turn, decrease blood flow around your legs. This could bring about lower leg pain (called claudication) when walking, climbing stairs or other kinds of exercise since your muscles will not be receiving an adequate blood supply. Resting your legs can help to ease this pain. If blood vessels get significantly narrowed or blocked even when you are resting pain will remain a problem until this is fixed. if you leave this condition untreated Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease may cause tissue in your leg to die triggering gangrene. People who are at a greater risk of developing this disease include smokers, diabetics, people with high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol. Things that you can try to help treat and prevent this disease include exercising more, reducing your consumption of alcohol and foods that increase cholesterol levels and quitting smoking. In the most serious cases, an operation may be required to reduce the narrowing of your arteries.
Varicose veins
Weakened valves and vein walls could potentially cause twisted dark blue or purple veins close to the surface of your skin (varicose veins). Varicose veins can trigger a dull ache, particularly following standing for a long period of time. Wearing support stockings can help. You can also try to alternate between standing and sitting. In case your varicose veins are severely painful you should make an appointment with your Doctor who will be able to advise you on other types of treatment.
Skin or soft tissue infection
A skin or soft tissue infection may look red and feel sensitive, inflamed and warm. Warm soaks can help you ease the pain. Your Doctor might also suggest the use of antibiotics to treat the infection. In the event that your symptoms become worse or you start getting a high temperature, then you must seek medical advice right away.
Diabetic Neuropathy
The nerves in your legs are responsible for sending sensory signals to your brain allowing you to feel and move your legs. If you have diabetes then you are at greater risk of damaging these nerves preventing them from working properly. This is due to the risk of higher blood sugar levels because of the lack of insulin in your blood. When this occurs is called it is called diabetic neuropathy and this condition can cause pain in both legs along with numbness and reduced sensation in the feet and lower legs. Treatment involves managing pain with painkillers and managing blood glucose levels to stop further nerve damage.
Best insoles for treating tired aching legs
If you are looking to buy a pair of insoles to ease your tired aching legs a lot will depend on precisely what is leading to the pain and the symptoms. You should always seek medical advice if you feel worried. Wearing a pair of orthotic insoles can help ease your tired aching legs by correcting the way that your feet function when you walk helping to ease pressure off key parts of your feet and legs.
#1 Massaging Gel Insoles By YourPhysioSupplies
These insoles are a perfect choice for anyone suffering from tired restless and aching legs! Standing for long periods of time especially on hard surfaces like concrete flooring can cause havoc on your feet and lower legs. Pressure can build and cause damage to them. These massaging gel insoles will massage your feet as you walk and will protect your feet and legs by easing pressure and absorbing shock. The massaging gel has also been specifically designed to shape to the exact shape of your feet giving you support and protection where you need it the most.
Pros: Made from lightweight materials so that they won't weigh your feet down. They are ideal for people who stand for long periods at a time. Holds your feet in the correct position and correct gait problems such as excessive pronation that can cause injury and pain. Eases tension and pressure off your feet and lower limbs. Protects your feet and legs from shock damage. Ideal for treating foot and leg fatigue.
Cons: Does not have the best arch support compared to other insoles listed.
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#2 FootReviver Arch & heel Support Insoles
These insoles are perfect for curing tired aching legs. They have been designed to help correct common biomechanical problems that can cause pressure on your feet and lower legs. What is even better is that these insoles come with a full 30-day money back guarantee which means if they fail to ease your pain you can simply send them back and get a full refund.
Pros: Corrects functional and biomechanical imbalance that may be to be blamed for your legs aching. Heel cups keeps your heel and ankle correctly positioned and improves stability. Arch support helps to relieve pressure off your feet and lower limbs. Made from durable and super lightweight materials -Perfect for those with flat feet.
Cons: Only available in one size.
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#3 Arch Support Insoles From Footcaredirect
These insoles are perfect for those who want to take as much strain and pressure off their feet and lower legs as possible. These insoles work to restore the biomechanical balance in your feet by correcting common gait problems such as excessive pronation that can result in pain and injury. They also come with a full 30-day money back guarantee which means if they fail to ease your pain you can send them back to receive a full refund.
Pros: Eases as much pressure off your feet and legs as possible -Ideal for those with flat and high arches. Designed to correct the most common functional problems that can cause foot and leg ache. Heel cups helps to improve stability and balance. Ergonomically made to be super lightweight so they won't weight down your feet when you wear them. Made from durable and breathable carbon fiber with an anti-bacterial coating to prevent the build-up of bacteria and helps combats against infections.
Cons: May need to be cut to size to fit into some types of shoes.
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Before wearing these I tired some custom orthotics that I got from a podiatrist, I wore them for about 2 months and they just hurt my feet and did not get rid of my pain in my legs..useless. Whereas these that are literally 10x less in price have gotten rid of my leg pain after just 2 weeks of wearing them. Unlike the custom insoles these insoles do not feel as though they are over supporting my feet, they seem to have the balance just right. I really like how they are really lightweight inside my shoes as sometimes you get insoles and they will make your shoes feel heavy. The only negative I can think of for these is that they do wear out fairly quick if you wear them every day in your shoes.. but considering just how cheap they are this doesn’t really matter.
#4 Shock Absorbing Insoles From YourPhysioSupplies
If you are looking for a pair of good shock absorbing insoles to keep your legs better protected against shock then look no further. These insoles have been made using special medical grade EVA material that will absorb as much shock as possible to prevent shock from causing damage to your feet and lower limbs. These insoles also make us of orthotic compression to help realign, support and correct the way that your feet function to help ease strain and pressure off your tired aching legs.
Pros: Spreads pressure evenly across whole foot. Made from special medical grade EVA that provides you with excellent shock absorption to keep your feet and legs protected. Ideal for people who stand for long periods and need extra support. Proven to help treat shin splints, jumpers knee, and runners knee. Corrects gait problems such as excessive pronation to prevent overuse injuries such as plantar fasciitis.
Cons: Not the best arch support!
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I have diabetic neuropathy and it is a real nightmare at times but the way that these insoles massage my feet really helps bring back feeling into them! They feel great when I wear them, they really do support my feet really well and I love how they absorb shock. I would definitely recommend them to anyone 🙂
All of my life I have suffered from aching legs, I don’t know what causes it but I have been trying to look for a cure for a long long time. Even though these insoles don’t stop my leg aching completely they have helped a huge amount. When I have them in my shoes my legs don’t hurt half as much and I can now walk for a lot longer without having to put my feet up and rest.
I find these are the best remedy for tired aching legs. I work as a waitress and I’m constantly on my feet just about every day. This would really take its toll… but since I started wearing gel insoles my feet and legs just feel miles better!