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Calf Strain
Description
A calf strain is a common athletic injury that involves the gastrocnemius, or main calf muscle. A strain is an injury in which the muscle fibers or tendons are stretched or torn. These injuries are commonly referred to as a "pulled" muscle. Pain and tenderness are localized to the calf muscle belly. Although the gastrocnemius muscle has two “heads,” or parts to the muscle, the medial or “inner” head is most often affected. It may also be painful to walk or run, rise up on your tippy-toes or to lift your foot upwards towards your shin.
Cause
A calf strain often occurs from running or jumping activities, or from a sudden change in direction. It most often occurs when you forcefully push off from your toes, but can also be due to weakness, cramping, or compensating from a previous injury.
Symptoms
A calf strain may cause immediate pain in the back of your lower leg. You may even hear or feel a pop or snap. The injury makes it difficult and painful to run, walk, and raise up on your toes. You may experience swelling and bruising.
Examination
Based on your symptoms, the mechanism of injury, and an examination of your lower leg, a determination can be made on the type and severity of your injury.
Treatment
After an initial course of ice (10-15 minutes, every 3-4 hours for 24-48 hours) and rest, treatment can progress. Once the initial inflammation and pain starts to resolve, subsequent treatment with modalities, such as heat, stim, ultrasound and laser light therapy, along with light stretching and strengthening exercises can begin. It may be necessary to avoid running, jumping and kicking until the injury starts to heal. Progressive activities, like the stationary bike and elliptical machine, may be used until the athlete feels well enough to return to running activities.
Supportive wrapping and taping are often helpful once the athlete returns to play. A thorough warm-up and stretching program, along with a restoration of muscle strength are important in preventing re-injury. Click here for Calf stretches
Prevention
Calf strains are best prevented by warming up properly and doing calf-stretching exercises before your activity. This is especially important if you are doing jumping or sprinting sports.
Recovery/Rehabilitation
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your activity will be determined by how soon your calf recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true: