Leg Pain and Injury – Leg pain is a very common issue among people of all ages and activity levels, and there are multiple and varying causes. Leg pain can occur from work or sports-related injuries, a more serious case of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), an arterial clot, or simply from carrying out everyday movements.

A local leg muscle, tendon or joint injury, (or a back issue is causing leg pain), it’s important to treat all leg injuries with careful and focussed attention.

If you or another person is experiencing leg pain, it is important to receive an accurate diagnosis to ensure the correct management of your pain. Only a qualified physician can provide an accurate and reliable assessment.

Sprains, and ligament tears to the calf and/or thigh are the most common types of leg injuries but fractures to the bones of the leg are also possible. These usually occur from trauma or a direct blow. Depending of the severity of the pain, symptoms of a leg injury can include:

• Severe pain
• Disfiguration or dislocation
  
• A sense of numbness or tingling
  
• Inability to move the leg normally due to weakness and or excessive pain
  
• Inability to put weight on the affected leg
• Signs of swelling, warmth, redness and/or bruising
  

If a bone is poking through the skin, call 000 for emergency assistance.

Elastoplast offers a range of leg injury management products to help you protect and care for you and your family.  

Your first point of call should be to a qualified physician. While you are waiting for a medical attention, follow and apply the RICER protocol to the affected area:

• Rest – rest the leg and avoid putting weight on it
• Ice – apply a cold pack to the injury for 20 minutes at regular intervals to help reduce discomfort
• Compression – Gently strap or tape the affected area of the leg for support and gentle using an Elastoplast Tubular Support Bandage.
• Elevation – Elevate the injured leg and rest on a soft surface to help reduce any bleeding or swelling.
• Referral – Refer yourself or the injured child to a qualified physician for precise diagnosis and further care and treatment advice

By their nature, accidents can be difficult to prevent. There are a number of proactive ways you can help to avoid leg injuries from occurring or reoccurring, though.

• Thoroughly stretch, warm up and cool down before and after exercise and sport
• Don't over exert yourself. If you experience pain when playing sport or exercising, stop, cool down and gently stretch
• When traveling long distances in a sitting position, remember to walk around every two hours to decrease the risk of DVT
• Wear appropriate footwear with good support and grip
• Maintain a healthy body weight to decrease any stress on your leg bones and joints

Please note that none of the above given tips or recommendations substitute medical advice. Important: consult a health professional in case of an injury or if you suspect overuse of joints or a medical condition such as a fracture. A physician should be consulted in those acute cases when the condition is accompanied by reddening, swelling or hyperthermia of joints, ongoing joint trouble or severe pain and/or are associated with neurological symptoms
(e.g. numbness, tingling, loss of motion).

For further information regarding Elastoplast products, please contact us via email on anz.consumerservices@beiersdorf.com. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages.