The lower limb consists of the hip joint, thigh, knee, calf, ankle and foot. Injuries to lower limbs can occur via direct or indirect traumas including:
- sprains, strains, ruptures and tears to the tendons, ligaments and muscles
- overuse injuries due to repetitive activity causing stress to particular structures
- dislocation which occurs when a bone comes out of its joint capsule, for example, when the ball shaped head of the hip which is called the head of femur is displaced from the hip socket
- bone fractures and breaks which occur when the force exerted against the bone is stronger than it can structurally withstand
- lower limb congenital abnormalities such as having a limb or digit, otherwise known as toes missing , limbs not being in proportion to the body, extra toes or paralysed limbs
- muscle avulsion injuries which are the tearing of a structure from the origin, for example, tearing the achilles tendon from the base of the ankle or tearing a muscle from the bone which is the muscle origin or attachment.
Symptoms and characteristics
Symptoms resulting from injuries to the lower limb can vary depending on the nature, type and severity of the injury. Symptoms for joints or surrounding structures can include:
- pain or discomfort
- swelling and inflammation
- reduction of strength
- reduction of range of movement
- weight bearing and gait difficulties.
For more information on specific lower limb injuries, follow these links:
Workplace solutions and adjustments
People with lower limb injuries may have difficulty if working in job roles that involve prolonged standing or walking, squatting, crouching, lifting heavy objects or work that involves weight bearing and twisting through the lower limbs.
In the workplace there are various factors that would therefore assist people with lower limb injuries to better manage their symptoms. These include:
ensuring the workplace and work tasks are set up to minimise repetitive or heavy lifting or the need to squat to access below waist level
if required to stand for long periods, consider the use of anti-fatigue matting or a sit stand stool to enable postural rotation
consider capacity for staff rotation between physically demanding tasks and lighter tasks as a way of building in breaks without having to stop work
education on safe manual handling techniques incorporating tips for those with a lower limb injury
consider the use of lifting or mechanical aids such as trolleys to minimise lifting and carrying requirements
consider task set up to enable people sufficient room for stepping rather than keeping their feet still and twisting.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
Case studies and success stories
For job seekers, employees and service providers:
References:
Better Health Channel 2012, Tendonitis, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 26 March 2012, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Tendonitis?OpenDocument.
Better Health Channel 2012, Bone fractures, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 26 March 2012, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Bone_fractures?open.
Bloomfield, J, Fricker, P & Fitch, K 1992, Textbook of Science and Medicine in Sport, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Melbourne.