Feeling pain should not be normal nor something to endure with stoicism. Nor if it is felt in the legs and appears in a way similar to muscle soreness. In most cases, it is due to performing physical activity of greater intensity than usual, although there are various alternative causes that should be examined to apply the appropriate treatment for each case.
Causes of muscle pain in legs: before and after training
Before analyzing the source of the pain on your own, it is advisable to see a medical professional and undergo the relevant diagnostic tests. However, there is a key parameter to differentiate the causes of discomfort: whether they occur before or after exercising.
Muscle overload
When the level of activity exceeds what the muscles are prepared to bear, one can suffer from overload. In this case, besides pain, stiffness in the affected muscle may be noticed. If these symptoms appear for the first time, a total or active rest of 4 or 5 days, which can be complemented with massages and therapeutic creams, is enough to recover.
Muscle soreness
As already mentioned, high-intensity training can damage muscle fibers, which allows the muscle to grow when these fibers recover. This process causes a sensation of soreness, which carries no risk to physical health and can be reversed with simple active rest.
Muscle contracture
For the same reasons as overload and soreness, a muscle contracture may appear. This is an involuntary contraction of the muscle that causes pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the area while it lasts. Sometimes, it can affect the surrounding muscle area and, if it occurs in a superficial area, it may appear as a lump.
Lack of minerals
So far, causes related to training and physical activity have been mentioned. However, there are also chemical causes, such as nutritional deficiencies. Insufficient levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium directly affect muscle recovery and cause muscle cramps. A varied and healthy diet is the best ally to avoid mineral deficiencies.
Muscle injury
This is one of the worst possibilities: muscle injury. A sharp pain is a clear sign of injury, such as a muscle tear, and the severity will depend on the extent of the rupture. It is especially advisable to see a physiotherapist and begin the corresponding treatment. Unlike overload, a superficial tear can be felt as a groove.
Poor blood circulation
Lack of exercise or genetic problems can cause blood to return to the heart from the legs with difficulty. If the problem is not addressed in time and leg circulation is improved, conditions such as varicose veins may develop or, in the worst case, a venous thrombosis that can lead to a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. In the early stages, poor blood circulation is expressed with a feeling of heaviness and swelling similar to muscle soreness.
Reasons for leg pain without training
Poor blood circulation is just one example of possible causes of leg pain unrelated to physical training. These causes are very varied and require evaluation by a medical specialist, as the symptoms may be more serious.
- In children and adolescents, due to bone growth.
- Arthritis or joint wear.
- Sciatic nerve pain.
- Myositis, inflammation of the muscles.
- Tenosynovitis, inflammation of the sheath lining surrounding the tendon.
- Thigh abscess.
- Spinal disorders, such as narrowing, vertebral slippage, or herniated disc.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Mononucleosis.
- Flu.
- Lyme disease.
What to do if my legs hurt as if I had muscle soreness?
When the soreness-like pain lasts more than a week, it is necessary to see a doctor. Especially if it prevents or makes it difficult to exercise or even walk. The health professional will determine which diagnostic tests should be performed and will be able to decide the treatment to follow. Before that, to rule out simple muscle soreness, it is advisable to apply cold to the area. If the pain does not reduce considerably, it is not muscle soreness.
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