There are many causes of Leg pain that Chiropractic Care can Help

The causes of leg pain can range from vascular, disc problems, nerve irritation, muscular, disease and trauma.

Some examples of each of these are: clots, disc herniation, sciatica, spasms,  diabetes, and sports injuries/auto accidents. Many of these causes can be treated by Chiropractic care. Sciatica is a term that is commonly used for any type of leg pain but it is a specific condition that normally involves spinal stenosis or a disc herniation.  This can be treated by specific mobilization and traction of the involved segment. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and is 3/4″ at it’s largest size in the back of the pelvis. Sciatica is a common condition that is treated successfully everyday in chiropractic offices around the  world.

  Piriformis syndrome is another cause of posterior leg pain that is due to the piriformis muscle causing irritation to the nerve. The piriformis muscle is often found to be extremely tight and lacks flexibility. This muscle is positioned closely to the sciatic nerve and can create pressure and compression to the nerve. Chiropractic stretches help resolve this type of leg pain quickly.

   Vertebral disc related leg pain is another cause of leg pain that is usually preceded by excessive lifting, falling, auto accident, sports injury, direct impact injuries, degeneration of the joint or degeneration of the disc itself. There are multiple types of disc injuries that can cause leg pain. Typically the more disc pressure on a branch of the sciatic nerve will cause leg pain further down the leg to the foot. Most disc related leg pain stops behind the knee.  Again depending on the  type of disc injury and its cause, chiropractic care can help relieve pressure.  Some causes of disc injury are due to wear and tear, over use, trauma and DDD/ DJD  degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease.

    Nerve irritation to the sciatic nerve can be due to a joint/bone, soft tissue compression/entrapment, and over use. Some of the more common activities that can trigger sciatic include:  excessive use – performing activities that the person is not use to, severe contraction of the hip and pelvic muscles during squats, stairs, climbing ladders, heavy lifting. Martial arts, kicking, hiking and short quick leg presses that the person is not accustomed to performing. Chiropractic treatments work well in resolving these types of symptoms through physical stretches/exercises and mobilizations.

    Muscular causes of leg pain include: piriformis entrapment on the sciatic nerve, taut hip flexors, compression of the femoral nerve at the front of the thigh, I.T. band pain due to shortening of the pelvic muscles, lack of flexibility in the hip soft tissues, hip abductors,  bursa inflammation, spasms and strain/sprain conditions. These are also treated effectively by chiropractic treatments.

   There are to many diseases to list that can  cause leg pain. Some of these can include: diabetics, MS, degeneration and arthritis. Chiropractic treatments have a good results when dealing  with arthritis DDD, DJD, and even MS. We treat many patients with MS to help reduce spastic contractions in the legs and hips. Passive mobilization of the hip and legs decrease leg pain in  many patients.

Trauma to the legs may result in strains/sprains, ruptured tissues, excessive hyperextension/flexion, damaged ligaments, tendons, connective tissues and muscles. Some chiropractic offices perform therapies that address these types of injuries successfully.

Chiropractic treatments can involve: ultrasound,  KT taping,  passive mobilization, rehab therapy, cold laser, bracing, stretching and strengthening involved regions. So, go to your chiropractor first for these types of injuries for the fastest recovery. ~Dr. Clay Gross