Calf Strain
What is calf strain?
Calf strain ranges from the tearing of a few muscles fibres to completely rupturing the muscles itself causing a person pain in the calf area.
What causes calf strain?
The calf muscle is usually strained whilst running or walking as the calf muscle’s function is to control the heel bone and they are therefore most active during the push-off phase of walking and running.
What are the Symptoms of calf strain?
The pain of a calf strain injury can range from a still cramping and tightness during the stretching or contraction of the muscles at the back of the lower leg, to immediate pain and even soreness when touched. In the worse cases, there can be acute stabbing pain and the person will be unable to walk meaning the muscle may have completely torn. Often bruising and swelling occurs.
What Treatment can you have for calf strain ?
Things you can do yourself
- Rest
- Cold therapy: Put a cold pack (typically an ice pack applied for 20 minutes) directly on the injury
- Thermotherapy: Apply heat (typically in the form of heated pads, warms packs or lamps) to the areas of the body causing pain. NB. Often Cold therapy and Thermotherapy are alternated, with the cold application happening first
- Compression
- Elevation
- Stretching and strengthening
Rehabilitation treatment
- Physiotherapy
- Soft-tissue massage
- Ultrasound