While you may think that you are suffering from sore legs for no reason, soreness and pain may either be a sign of exertion or a medical condition. Scroll down to find information on the common causes of sore leg muscles.

Sore leg muscles could be caused due to a variety of reasons. Indulging in strenuous physical activities that put pressure on the leg muscles is most likely to cause achy legs. At times, you may not experience the signs of exertion instantly. The symptoms might present themselves a little later. You may wonder why you are suffering from sore legs for no reason. Though one may sometimes be unable to identify the underlying cause, there has to be a reason behind muscle soreness. You just need to realize what it is. Scroll down to find out about the circumstances under which one's leg muscles may turn sore.

Causes

Our legs carry our weight during various activities. In case of people who are overweight, muscle fatigue and soreness is usually linked to the strain on lower extremities due to excess weight. Those who are overweight often experience pain in their lower extremities, especially when they have to stand for prolonged periods of time. Standing for long stretches of time can tire out the leg muscles and cause muscle soreness. More often than not, it is the overuse of leg muscles that causes soreness in legs. A person who has a sedentary lifestyle is most likely to experience pain in the legs after performing any strenuous physical activity.

What happens is that the muscle fibers develop micro-tears due to the sudden exercise. It is the development of these micro-tears that causes soreness. No wonder, so much emphasis is placed on the need to do warm-up sessions before performing any strenuous physical activity. At times, people who exercise regularly could also experience muscle soreness after a workout. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), also known as muscle fever, is one such condition that is characterized by soreness in muscles several hours after a workout or any strenuous activity. These symptoms might be linked to lactic acid buildup in muscles.

Charley horse, which refers to the sudden and uncontrolled contractions or cramps in the leg muscles, is another condition that may cause severe pain. While you may wonder why you are suffering from sore leg muscles for no apparent reason, electrolyte imbalances that may result from dehydration may be causing leg cramps. At times, cramps could even be attributed to hormonal imbalances. Indulging in intensive workouts or prolonged use of certain drugs could be responsible for causing such contractions.

Another condition that might cause pain in the lower extremities is poor blood circulation. If pain is also accompanied by swelling or a pins and needle sensation, poor circulation in legs may be the reason behind achy legs. Those who have been living a sedentary lifestyle are most likely to develop achy legs due to poor circulation. Sitting in a wrong posture for long stretches of time could affect blood circulation which in turn may cause thigh muscles to turn sore. Various other medical conditions can be responsible for causing leg pain. People suffering from restless legs syndrome could experience aching legs at night. Wearing ill-fitting footwear could also be a contributory factor.

Treatment

If you have been suffering from recurring bouts of leg cramps, leg pain or muscle soreness, consult a doctor soon. Doctors usually order certain diagnostic tests and analyze the patient's medical history to decide if an underlying medical condition may be causing pain in the legs. They may follow a symptomatic approach for alleviating the discomfort. The use of pain-relieving medication is usually recommended if the pain is severe. If there are signs of inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed. As mentioned earlier, soreness in leg muscles could be due to excessive body weight. So, those who are overweight must try to lose weight. Do perform warm-up exercises before performing any strenuous physical activity. Give your muscles some time to prepare themselves for a workout. Refrain from overusing your leg muscles. If you experience muscle soreness, take ample rest so that your body gets time to recover. You could also go for massage therapy to get relief. Application of a heating pad may also help in alleviating pain. Do follow a healthy diet to prevent nutritional deficiencies.

These were some of the common causes of soreness in legs. Now that you know what the common contributory factors for soreness in leg muscles are, make sure that you take all possible precautions and refrain from activities that may worsen the pain.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.