Repetitive strain injury of the calf is caused by consistent repetitive use. The calf muscle is found at the back of the lower leg and is comprised of three muscles: the plantaris, the gastrocnemius, and the soleus. Calf Strain Symptoms . Because the calf muscles cross two joints (ankle and knee), there is a higher risk of strain and tears, most likely during running activities. [1] Upper Calf Tear: damage near the junction between the muscle tendon and muscle belly Calf muscle strain (gastrocnemius strain). It commonly occur in men aged between 30 and 50. Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury of the Achilles (uh-KILL-eez) tendon, the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone. Walking Boot. The gastrocnemius is the larger of the two muscles and is the major plantar flexor of the foot. These muscles are responsible for carrying the heel off the floor when we are walking, jumping or running. Remember I do not replace a real person and always recommend seeking professional advice. Notable symptoms for a strained or torn calf muscle are stiffness, swelling, pain, and bruising. Doing a classic “calf stretch” will often provoke pain, as will doing calf … Urgency: Self-treatment. Calf muscle strain- cause, symptoms and treatment. There are three grades of calf muscle strain, depending on how much of the muscle is damaged. Gradually including weights or additional resistance over time. Further Info. In the legs, mild or moderate strains may take up to 8 to 10 weeks or more to heal. A calf strain occurs when fibres of either of these two muscles are torn. A grade I strain is mild. The most common muscle injured when a calf strain occurs is the medial gastrocnemius. The more severe the strain, the longer the recovery time. At the time of injury, you may hear or feel a pop inside your calf -- the sound of the muscle tearing or … Calf problems can cause a range of symptoms including pain, bruising, tightness and stiffness. Muscle strains are graded as mild, moderate and severe. When you strain a calf, it’s usually the gastrocnemius or soleus muscle in the calf that’s injured. A calf strain may also be more likely in athletes who have tight calf muscles. Newsletter; A calf strain usually starts with sudden pain in the back of the lower leg. Typical symptoms are stiffness, discoloration and … Severity of Muscle Strains. Home / Conditions / Calf Muscle Strain Calf Muscle Strain What is a Calf Muscle Strain? The calf muscles are found at the back of the leg. Swelling and tenderness when touched may develop, and can be too sore to stand on. Muscle strains are categorized based on the extent of the damage and the symptoms you might experience 2. A calf strain can consist of an injury to any one of these three muscle units. This is not intended to diagnose calf pain, only estimate the severity of a calf … Tips for Healing after an Acute Calf Strain. A calf muscle strain occurs when the calf muscle in the leg is twisted, pulled, stretched, or torn. Symptoms of a torn calf muscle include pain, swelling, bruising and weakness or loss of function. What are the symptoms of calf strain? The more severe the strain, the longer the time to recover. Keeping calf muscles strong so they can absorb the energy of sudden physical stress. Symptoms of muscle strain include: Swelling, bruising, or redness due to the injury; Pain at rest; Pain when the specific muscle or the joint in relation to that muscle is used Symptoms of a compartment syndrome occurring after a calf strain include a sudden, new and excessive pain or ache in the injured area, pins and needles or tingling, difficulty moving the body part, and tightness on palpation of the area. The most common cause of calf strain is through overuse, particularly in patients who partake in running and jumping sports. Patients with a strained calf usually feel a sudden sharp pain or pulling sensation in the calf muscle at the time of injury. Pointing the foot (plantar flexing) reproduces the pain. ... How to tell if it's a strain or something else. However, depending on the severity of the injury, it can result in more specific symptoms based on grade: What calf pain feels like. Symptoms of a mild back strain usually improve within one to two weeks and are gone within four to six weeks. The calf muscle is actually composed of up to nine separate muscles, any of which can be injured individually or together. Calf Muscle Strain. This type of strain is often called tennis leg, originating from a 1883 reported case of a tennis injury. Diagnosing a calf strain. Signs and symptoms of a calf strain. This type of calf muscle pain can also lead to a sense of imbalance. Whether you have strained your calf through overexertion during exercise or suffer from a chronic illness, a problem with your calf … 3. They also help to pump blood against gravity back to the heart. What are the symptoms? However, it is common to experience the following symptoms: Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the muscle strain. Repetitive strain injury of the calf. Here’s What Causes Annoying Calf Cramps Mid-Run. A pulled calf muscle is when these muscles are pulled beyond their limit leading to a muscle strain. A pop, snap or tearing sensation may be felt. A calf strain, commonly called a ‘pulled’ muscle, is caused by overstretching or tearing of either of the 2 calf muscles – the soleus and the gastrocnemius. Even though a calf strain can be painful and limit your mobility there are some steps that you can take to speed up the healing process and decrease pain levels.   This muscle is on the inner side of the back of the leg. Achilles tendinitis most commonly occurs in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs. among tennis players. Find out about the causes, symptoms and available treatments. Calf Strain Symptoms. calf raises. Treatment for a torn calf muscle involves using the RICE method and protecting the muscle to avoid further injury. Top Symptoms: lower leg numbness, calf pain from overuse. A calf strain results from overstretching or tearing any of the nine muscles of the calf. A calf strain is an injury to the muscles in the calf area (the back of the lower leg below the knee). Calf strain results from too much stretching or tearing of any of the calf muscles causing pain and swelling. Those effected notice a sudden, sharp pain in the back of the leg. It is a common injury and is often caused by overstretching or by putting excess force through the calf muscle. Complete healing of a calf muscle injury can take several months, but the vast majority of people are able to return to most activities much sooner. A calf muscle tear is a most common in sports which require quick acceleration and changes in direction such as running, volleyball and tennis, Muscle strains are graded I to III. The location of pain will depend on where the calf tear is. With a severe calf strain, you might hear a pop at the time of injury. Stretching out calf muscles before physical activity, i.e. The symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the strain, but most people will experience sudden, sharp pain and tenderness at the calf muscle site. Calf strain diagnosis quiz. Muscle Strain Symptoms. A calf strain is the most common cause of calf pain in runners. All muscle strains are categorized as either Grade I (tearing of a few muscle fibers), Grade II (more extensive muscle fiber damage) or Grade III (complete rupture of the muscle). Rarity: Uncommon. Symptoms. Prevention. Calf strains may be minor or very severe. Gastrocnemius strains are fairly easy to identify. They are often similar to the symptoms of a ruptured Achilles tendon. Possible Symptoms and Causes of Calf Pain Injury-Related Calf Pain 1. Symptoms Based on Severity. Pain in the calf muscle is a common result of straining the medial gastrocnemius muscle during physical activity such as with sports. Symptoms that always occur with calf strain: pain in one calf. Calf strain injuries occur often in middle-aged athletes and weekend warriors. A torn calf muscle is experienced through swelling or bruising if the tear is severe. A calf strain injury usually occurs the mid leg and/or knee within the muscle belly. Symptoms of a severe (Grade III) strain may persist until the torn muscle is repaired surgically. A torn calf muscle, also known as a calf strain or pulled calf, is a common and often painful injury. It usually occurs in people between the ages of 30 – 45. A muscle strain refers to the stretching or tearing of muscle fibers. In a grade-1 strain, the midpoint of the calf may be painful to the touch. A Controlled Ankle Motion (CAM) boot or a walking boot may be needed and recommended for most grade 2 and grade 3 calf strains. Luckily, most symptoms of calf strain settle down quickly with proper treatment. Arterial claudication The first symptom is usually tightness or a sudden sharp pain in the muscle. In many cases, new or flare-up of long-standing calf problems should begin to settle within 6 weeks without the need to see a healthcare professional. By Cathy Fieseler Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Occasionally, the patient may experience increasing tightness in the calf muscle in the lead up to their injury. A physiotherapist will typically grade the injury as shown in box 1. Typically, individuals who sustain a calf strain notice a sudden, sharp pain in the back of the leg. These 3 muscles are referred to as ‘the triceps surae’, and they attach to the Achilles tendon. Grade 2 Strain: Damage to a larger number of muscle fibers; Grade 3 Tear: Complete tear in the muscle; Symptoms of a Torn Calf Muscle. The calf is comprised of two muscles — the gastrocnemius and the soleus.These muscles meet at the Achilles tendon, which attaches directly to the heel. The calf muscle typically gets strained when the foot suddenly bends upward, stretching the calf muscle beyond its limits. This type of injury is caused when one of the two muscles in the calf is overstretched or forced to contract too quickly. The symptoms of a torn calf muscle are usually more immediate and obvious than the symptoms of a strain. They also help to propel the body forward while walking and running. The pain is felt more when standing on your toes, as this stretches the calf muscle. Know its causes, symptoms, treatment, recovery. Calf strain is also referred to as "Tennis Leg," because it is so common . Calf strain symptoms can manifest in plenty of different ways, and most of them if left untreated, will interfere with your normal routine. You’ll feel pain, soreness, and tightness deep within the muscles along the back of your lower leg. What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Soleus Muscle Pain? 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