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Family Medicine pp 1–26Cite as

Disorders of the Lower Extremity

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Abstract

The lower extremities provide the stable platform for locomotion and all movements while upright. They are subject to much higher force loads than the upper extremities. Walking has an impact force of 1.2–3 times a patient’s body weight (BW), and running can increase the impact force anywhere from 7–10 times BW. Compounded over a lifetime, the lower extremities are subject to tremendous loads. Multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors increase the risk for lower extremity injuries. These include but are not limited to musculoskeletal abnormalities (e.g., pes cavus), obesity, advancing age, chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, COPD), training errors, certain medication use, and previous trauma.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Jeff Leggit, Ryan Mark, Chad Hulsopple & Patrick M. Carey

  2. Fort Belvoir Family Medicine Department, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, VA, USA

    Jason B. Alisangco

Authors
  1. Jeff Leggit
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  2. Ryan Mark
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  3. Chad Hulsopple
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  4. Patrick M. Carey
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  5. Jason B. Alisangco
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeff Leggit .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE, USA

    Paul Paulman

  2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Robert B. Taylor

  3. Department of Family Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Audrey A. Paulman

  4. Department of Family Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA

    Laeth S. Nasir

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Leggit, J., Mark, R., Hulsopple, C., Carey, P.M., Alisangco, J.B. (2020). Disorders of the Lower Extremity. In: Paulman, P., Taylor, R., Paulman, A., Nasir, L. (eds) Family Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0779-3_118-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0779-3_118-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0779-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0779-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Disorders of the Lower Extremity
    Published:
    28 May 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0779-3_118-2

  2. Original

    Disorders of the Lower Extremity
    Published:
    23 March 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0779-3_118-1

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