November/December 2002 Alternative Health
Leg Pain

by Todd Pennington, LMT

  • Have you felt or been told that you have a short leg?
  • Do you walk or run with pain?
  • Do you have knee, quad, hamstring or calf pain?
  • Has anyone ever mentioned shin splits?
  • Do you walk on the inside or outside of your feet?

If you said yes to one or more of these questions, then it is likely that you have some form of a leg muscle problem. In many cases it is possible to relax the muscles so that the legs can work with greater ease and less pain.

First of all, if you have knee problems, check with a doctor to find out if there is any torn cartilage or ligaments in the knee. That type of problem may require surgery and then muscle work afterward. Also, it is possible to tear muscles and that is again a problem that may take medical attention and then muscle work afterward. Accidents and surgeries of all types require the primary healing to be finished before muscle work, to give mobility and comfort.

Pain is a signal to the brain of a problem. It gets you to release the tension enough to protect the body. This however, can keep you from doing many of the activities you would like. Leg problems are normally assumed to be in the leg. They can be, but there are other possibilities. Since the legs join with the pelvis, leg problems can be caused there. Many of the muscles that rotate the leg outward are around the sacrum (part of the back side of the pelvis). Also, the ankle and the foot can tighten the entire leg. The greatest chance of long term relief is in looking at all the joints of the body and finding even the long distance causes and getting them to relax.

When the back of the leg (hamstrings) is painful it is likely that the pelvis is tilted. One or more of the quads may be tight and forcing the pelvis down in front. The quads are larger and stronger than the hamstrings, thus can overpower them. When this happens, sometimes it is the hamstrings that scream. Just working the hamstrings will not take care of the problem if it is being caused elsewhere. Another one of the muscles is called the Psoas (pronounced So-as). This comes from the front side of the low back, goes through the pelvis and anchors onto the upper leg just below the groin region. This muscle tilts the body forward, thus stretching the hamstring muscles. The hamstrings try to pull the pelvis back down and may become so tight that sensors go off telling the brain that damage is about to be done. There are many other muscles that can tilt the pelvis and cause the same sort of problem. Again, take care of the cause and the result lasts longer.

Knee problems have many different causes. One of the biggest culprits is the foot. When the foot muscles tighten they cause the entire leg to tighten. Tight muscles in the calf can pull on the knee. The quad muscles all attach directly onto the knee cap, thus each of them can directly force it. Another cause is tight muscles in, or affecting the pelvis. Anything that forces the knee out of its normal function can cause knee pain.

Differences in leg length have many causes. One of which is having the Psoas tighter on one side than the other. This tilts the pelvis sideways. It will also pull the spine to the side. Thus it can lead to leg pain, low back pain and other problems in the spine, neck and up into the head. Another area is around the sacrum (in the center, back portion of the pelvis). If any of these muscles are pulling the sacrum to the side, it can produce tilting similar to that just mentioned. Still another cause is tightness further up the spine causing the pelvis to tilt. This is the reverse of the process just mentioned.

Shin splints are very sore muscles on the outer front side of the lower leg. To help them, all of the lower leg muscles need to have the tension released. This includes releasing the ankle, knee and the upper leg. If these and other regions are relaxed you are likely to have better results.

NeuroMuscular Therapy works on the connection between the nerves and musculoskeletal system. It is a gentle and effective way of relieving muscle tightness and pain. Control Muscle Release Therapy looks at the muscles that control bone and muscles at a distance. The goal is to release the structure easily and gently. The easiest way to release the whole body is to relax the key regions of the body.

Call us if you have one or more of the issues and want to make changes. We work on these problems and many others. For more information or an appointment call Pam Pennington, LMT, Todd Pennington, LMT, Pennington Massage Clinic, 10175 SW Barbur Suite 306, Portland OR 97219. (503) 244-4427. For articles on these and many other subjects check our web site or call and request articles: www.penningtonmassage.com