What is a Calf Strain?
A calf strain occurs when the muscles of your lower leg are overstretched. The typical muscles involved in a calf strain are the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. Both muscles make up what we call the calf muscle. We classify muscle strains on a graded system with three levels where a grade 1 sprain is the least severe, and grade 3 is the most severe. More muscle fibres are torn as you go up the grades of injury.
Calf strains are common in sports like rugby, football, tennis, athletics, and dancing. They are also more common in men and those over 40 years of age. You may also be more prone to a calf injury if your muscles are short, tight, and deconditioned, or if you do not complete a good warm-up or cool-down.
Signs and Symptoms of a Calf Strain
Signs and symptoms of a calf strain include pain when flexing your ankle and pointing your toes, problems bending the knee or ankle, difficulty standing on your toes, snapping, or popping sensation in the calf, swelling and/or bruising in the calf, and the need to stop the activity you were completing when the injury happened.
Treatment
Immediately after the injury, it is best to use the RICE acronym for a calf strain injury. This means you should rest the muscle, apply ice and compression, and elevate the calf. Your physiotherapist may also give you some gentle exercises to help stretch the muscles, provide you with and teach you how to use crutches, and may complete some gentle massage on manual therapy techniques on the calf muscle or knee/ankle joints as needed.
In the early stages it is important not to push through the pain. In the later stages of recovery your physio will help strengthen the calf muscles and help you return to your daily activities. You can usually return to your activities within a couple of weeks, and surgery is rarely needed. It is important however, to not return too early as you can be at a greater risk of injury.
Prevention
Calf strain injuries can be prevented by completing good warm-up and cool down programs before and after your activities. Muscles that are stronger and more conditioned also have a decreased chance of being strained. Proper sport technique, supportive and proper fitting shoes, and not pushing through pain are also important.
What else could my injury be and when should I contact my doctor?
In general, you should see your doctor if you cannot walk or put weight through your leg, you cannot bend or flex your ankle or knee, you have severe pain, redness, and heat in the calf, and swelling in the leg/foot/ankle. These kinds of symptoms can signify something like an Achilles tendon rupture or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
A DVT is an emergency, and it is important to be seen quickly. Major symptoms of a DVT include swelling, pain/cramping/soreness in the calf, changes in skin colour and warmth in the leg. If there is any concern about a DVT, contact your doctor right away or go to the emergency room.
Here at Ballsbridge Physiotherapy, we can help you through all stages of a calf injury and get you back to your regular sports and activities. We will complete a comprehensive assessment and provide you with an individualised program. Call, email, or book online today!
References and Resources:
Cleveland Clinic: Pulled Calf Muscle
Cleveland Clinic: Deep Vein Thrombosis
Physiotherapy
We specialise in the treatment and prevention of injuries and conditions. If you are suffering with any health aliments that you feel we could help you with, get in touch today. We provide treatment for a wide age range from 9 years to 90 years old.