Skateboarding is fun. It’s a way to interact with friends and keep your body fit.
The pressure on your legs could lead to leg swells and tendonitis. Your tendons also overstretch leading to tendonitis and muscle sprain.
Why Does My Leg Hurt when I Skateboard?
Why does my leg hurt when I skateboard? Your leg can hurt when you skateboard because of tendonitis, muscle sprain from over-skating, wrong skating technique, weak shin, and calf muscle, or ill-fitting skateboarding shoes.
1. Tendonitis
Tendonitis is an inflammation in a tendon that causes pain between bones and muscles. It happens because of repeated activities like running.
Skateboarding is so addictive and involves daily jumping and spinning. That is why tendonitis is common among skateboarders.
If you experience the following symptoms, you possibly have tendonitis.
- Painful tendon when skateboarding
- Cracking sound on the tendon when moving
- Swelling accompanied by warmth and erythema (redness) Movement difficulties
You can treat tendonitis by yourself if the condition is not severe.
- First, take a rest. Avoid any activity that stains muscles for three days
- You can also apply ice to the tendon. Wrap ice on a tea towel and place it on your muscles after every three hours for three days
- Support your affected area with a soft brace or a tube bandage
You can visit your nearby healthcare if;
- The pain is unbearable
- You have torn tendons
2. Muscle Sprain from Over skating
When the ligament stretches or tears, it results in sprain injuries.
You encounter muscle sprain because you move, jump and spin when skateboarding.
If you have the following symptoms, you might be a muscle sprain victim;
- Muscle pain
- Swelling because of muscles inflammation
- Unable to move
- A pop sensation when moving after injury
- Bruise on the muscles
You can try to treat yourself if the muscle sprain is not severe through;
1. Taking rest
2. Wrapping the affected area with ice
3. Compress the affected area
4. Elevate the injured area
5. Offer support to your leg
You can see a doctor if;
- You have difficulties in movement
- Your bone has severe pain
- Your affected area is numb
3. Wrong Technique
Falling is sure, whether you are a beginner or an experienced skateboarder. But, the wrong technique increases the falling chances.
Basic balancing skills are basic when skateboarding. If you cannot balance yourself, you cannot skateboard.
If you ride without balance, you will fall and hurt your calf muscles.
First, you need to position your toe on one side of your rail and your heel on the other.
Your front leg should lay straight on the deck when pushing the board. Your leg should be over the centerline.
Displace more weight on the leading leg to balance yourself in skateboarding motion.
More reading>> The comparison between snowboarding and skateboarding.
4. Weak Shin and Calf Muscle
Weak shin muscle is a common reason for pain in your front ankle. The muscle or tissue damage that attaches to the shinbone causes pain.
When you overskate, your shin muscle tightens, hurting your leg.
You can do-it-yourself treatment at home. Resting is one way, using ice on the affected area and stretching.
When one of the gluteus muscles overstretches and splits, calf muscles weaken.
Warming up is essential before skateboarding to reduce calf muscle weakness.
The recovery period depends on the condition of your injuries. Mild calf pain takes two weeks to heal, while serious injuries require four months.
5. Ill-fitting Skateboarding Shoes
Choosing ill-fitting shoes can be the reason you fall every time you skateboard.
When the size of the shoes does not correspond to your board size, you cannot control skateboarding.
Too big skateboarding shoes will move you from one side to the other without control. The lost balance will lead to a fall.
Too narrow shoes cause muscle cramps. This results in uncomfortable riding and painful shin muscles.
Small shoes will also make you strain when skateboarding. You can’t control movements on your board with uncomfortable shoes.
The stain will cause pain in your shin and calf muscles.
Avoid buying too big and narrow shoes. Choose shoes with space for your toes to maneuver your movements.
But, the space should not be overdone.
Your preferred shoes should support you and make you enjoy the ride.
How Skating Affects the Knee Joint
Skating periodically stretches and works the lateral side of the knee joint, which is vital because this is the side that bears most of the weight during skating.
When you skate, your thighs push upward against your leg bones as they rotate.
This repetitive motion can cause wear and tear in these same areas over time.
In extreme cases, rheumatoid arthritis may develop after years of skating on rough surfaces.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which stabilizes the knee joint in a “hinge” position, is particularly susceptible to damage from skating.
The ACL helps keep your thighbone from moving too far forward, causing knee cartilage to cave in.
Skating can also compress surrounding tissues, pushing the kneecap out of alignment and cause pain or instability.
If you have knee pain or are experiencing instability when skating, consult your doctor.
In some cases, minor corrective surgery may be necessary to restore injured muscles and joints to normal function.
Solutions to Relief from Leg Pain while skateboarding
If you are experiencing leg pain while skateboarding, there are several things that you can do to alleviate the problem.
- Try to limit your time on skating and increase your time spent resting or stretching. This will help reduce the amount of wear and tear on your muscles and tendons.
- If skating is causing significant knee pain, consider switching to a different type of board or taking some classes on how to skate safely.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can also drink tea, especially Green, black and white. This is according to Arthritis.org.
- Ice your knee regularly, especially after strenuous activities. Wrapping a cold cloth or ice pack around your kneecap for 10 to 15 minutes several times daily can help reduce inflammation and pain.
- Seek medical attention if the pain is severe, persistent, or preventing you from completing everyday activities. A doctor may prescribe medication to relieve symptoms, perform an MRI or X-ray of your knee joint as part of the evaluation process, or even surgically reconstruct injured tissue.
Steps to Take if You Experience Pain When Skateboarding
If you are experiencing pain when skateboarding, there are several steps that you can take to reduce or eliminate the discomfort.
- Be cautious and adjust your technique as needed. Skating too aggressively or moving around in an unsupported way can worsen the situation.
- Always wear a helmet and pads when skating. This will help protect you from falls and fractures.
- Make sure that your footwear is appropriately fitting. Do not use shoes designed for walking or running because they are not designed for skateboarding.
- If you experience pain when skating, take some time off to allow your knee to rest and heal. This can help reduce the chance of future injury.
- If the pain is exceptionally severe, consult a doctor.
How Can You Prevent Leg Pain When Skateboarding?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to prevent leg pain when skateboarding varies depending on your own body and skating style.
However, taking some common steps can help reduce the risk of injury:
- Wear protective pads whenever you skate. This will help protect you from falls and fractures.
- Make sure that your footwear is appropriately fitting. Do not use shoes designed for walking or running because they are not designed for skateboarding.
- Skate cautiously and adjust your technique as needed; overdoing it can lead to injury.
- Take some time off every once in a while to allow your knee to rest and heal; joint overuse can cause more damage down the road.
