After confirming you have a torn calf muscle, your healthcare provider may recommend a home treatment known as RICE:
- Rest: Once you feel calf pain, stop doing physical activity and rest your leg. Don’t push through pain, which can make...
- Ice: Put an ice pack or cold compress on your calf muscles for 20 minutes every two hours. Don’t apply ice directly to...
What is the recovery time for a torn calf?
The recovery times for calf tears are as follows:
- Grade I: Anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks following proper physical therapy and treatment.
- Grade II: Typically, 3 to 6 weeks for full recovery. Physical therapy, strengthening, and treatment need to be heavily utilized.
- Grade III: Even without surgical intervention, recovery time for a complete tear of the calf muscle can be 3 to 4 months.
What are the symptoms of a torn calf muscle?
- Grade 1 symptoms include a cramping sensation, tightness, and slight pain when the calf muscles stretch and contract. ...
- Grade 2 symptoms include immediate pain (especially when stretched or contracted). ...
- Grade 3 symptoms include an immediate burning sensation and stabbing pain that prohibits your ability to walk. ...
How to diagnose and treat calf strains and tears?
X-rays can reveal many types of abnormalities of the lower leg, ankle, or knee, particularly problems with bones and joints. An ultrasound or MRI may be used to evaluate calf tendon injuries and tears. In some cases, imaging tests can also be used to check for blood clots.
How do you treat an injured calf muscle?
William Shiel on eMedicineHealth says that this is what you need to do: 12
- Protection. First of all, you should protect the strained calf muscle from further injury.
- Rest. Avoid any activities that could strain the muscle further and cause pain.
- Ice. Apply an ice pack to the calf muscle for up to 20 minutes every hour to reduce inflammation and help get rid of the pain.
- Compression. ...
- Elevation. ...
How long does a torn calf muscle take to heal?
The best way to recover from a torn calf muscle is by protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (PRICE). If treated properly, it can take up to three weeks to heal Grade 1 calf pulls, four to six weeks to heal Grade 2 muscle strains, and three to four months to heal Grade 3 tears.
Can you walk on a torn calf muscle?
With a minor calf injury, symptoms will be mild with minimal swelling, you will be able to walk unaided with slight discomfort but sudden movements that stretch or work the calf may cause an increase in pain.
What does a calf muscle tear feel like?
A pop, snap or tearing sensation may be felt. Occasionally, with a severe tear, it may feel like you have been shot in the back of the leg. Afterwards, the calf may swell and it will be difficult to rise up onto the toes. The calf will be painful and tender and will feel weak and stiff.
What's the best treatment for a torn calf muscle?
Rest: Stop running or physical activity to avoid further damaging the calf. Ice: Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 20 minutes every two hours. Don't apply ice directly to your skin. Compression: Reduce swelling and fluid buildup by applying a compression bandage or wrap to the injured area.
Should I see a doctor for a torn calf muscle?
In most cases, people can treat a pulled calf muscle at home with rest, cold and hot packs, compression, and elevation. A person may find over-the-counter pain medications helpful as well. If the injury is severe or the pain does not improve over time, it is best to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
How can I speed up muscle recovery?
Read on for seven tips for muscle injury recovery that will speed up or improve your recovery.Stay Hydrated. ... Reduce Inflammation With Cherry Juice. ... Increase or Improve Sleep. ... Compress the Affected Muscle. ... Switch to Low-Impact Exercise During Injury Recovery. ... Up Your Protein Intake. ... Limit Alcohol and/or Tobacco Consumption.
Is it OK to massage a torn calf muscle?
A correctly sized compression bandage should be applied to limit bleeding and swelling in the injured area. The No HARM Protocol should also be applied – no heat, no alcohol, no running or activity, and no massage. This will ensure decreased bleeding and swelling in the injured area.
Why is my calf strain not healing?
1:185:44Why is My Calf Strain not Healing? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipReally it means that a part of your calf muscle has torn. So some of the fibers have torn and nowMoreReally it means that a part of your calf muscle has torn. So some of the fibers have torn and now the muscle as a whole is not as strong as it could be. So in order for you to get back to your sport.
How do you check for a torn calf muscle?
Signs and SymptomsA snap or pull felt or heard at the time of injury (with a Grade 1 and 2 calf strain). ... Pain and weakness in the calf area.Swelling in the area.Tightness in the area.Bruising.Weakness in the calf when trying to walk, climb stairs, or stand.Limping when walking.More items...
Will a torn calf muscle heal on its own?
A torn calf muscle is a painful injury in the muscles behind your shin bone. Athletes and people over 40 are especially prone to this type of muscle injury. Calf muscle tears usually heal after a few weeks of conservative treatments, such as rest, ice, compression and elevation. In rare cases, you may need surgery.
Will stretching a torn calf muscle heal it?
While you shouldn't resume normal activities until your calf muscle heals, there are some stretches that can complement rest and other treatment measures. Stretching not only helps with recovery of your affected muscles, but it can also help your knee and ankle joints remain stabilized and mobile.
When does a calf tear need surgery?
Grade 3 Strain The muscle has a complete lack of function, and requires a full six months to a year for a complete recovery. In many cases, surgery is required in the case of complete rupture. Grade III strains are quite painful, and can result in a hematoma (a localized pooling of blood due to a torn blood vessel).
What does a Grade 2 calf strain feel like?
Grade 2 degree strain Symptoms: The muscle can be tender to touch. There is inflammation. A few days after the injury, bruising will appear below where the partial tear has occurred. The muscle feels tight and painful on resisted plantar flexion (pointing the toe).
How do I know if my calf pain is serious?
Symptoms that might indicate a more severe condition include:swelling.unusual coolness or pale color in the calf.tingling or numbness in the calf and leg.weakness of the leg.fluid retention.redness, warmth, and tenderness of the calf.
When should I be concerned about calf pain?
See your doctor as soon as possible if you have: Signs of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C) A leg that is swollen, pale or unusually cool. Calf pain, particularly after prolonged sitting, such as on a long car trip or plane ride.
Can you walk with a Grade 2 calf strain?
Usually minimal or no limits to activity. Grade II calf strain: Moderate discomfort with walking. Limited ability to perform activities such as running and jumping. May have swelling and bruising.
Calf Muscle Strain vs. Pulled Calf Muscle vs. Calf Muscle Tear
What is the difference between a strained, pulled, and torn calf muscle? All of these injuries to your calves can cause varying degrees of pain and...
Grades of Calf Muscle Injury
All types of calf muscle injuries are graded according to their severity. These are classed as mild, moderate, or severe injuries to the calves. Ac...
What Does Pulled, Strained, Or Torn Calf Muscle Feel like?
Straining, pulling, or tearing a calf muscle can feel like something has hit the back of your leg with force. According to the journal Radiology Ca...
Causes of Strained, Pulled, Or Torn Calf Muscle
Overstretching the calves is usually the most common cause of straining, pulling, or tearing the muscle fibers in your lower leg.Doctors from the N...
Calf Muscle Cramps During The Night
Night leg cramps (also called nocturnal leg cramps or “charley horses”) mostly happen in the calf muscles. These are involuntary contractions or sp...
How Long Do Calf Muscle Injuries Take to heal?
Knowing how long it takes a calf muscle injury to heal depends on the extent of gastrocnemius tearing in the leg. However, the length of time a tor...
How to Treat Pulled Or Strained Calf Muscle
To help quickly heal a pulled or strained calf muscle, it’s important to treat the injury with ice and compression as soon as possible.
Exercises For Calf Muscle Strain
After two or three weeks of applying ice and heat treatments, you can start to use exercises for calf muscle strain. If you have suffered a grade 2...
How to Prevent Calf Muscle Injuries
To prevent bad calf muscle strains and tears, it is very important to warm up before taking part in strenuous activity.According to the Journal of...
When to See A Doctor For Calf Muscle Injury
Full recovery from a serious calf muscle strain or tear may take many weeks or even months. During this time, you should continue building strength...
Why do calf muscles tear?
Your calf muscles are at especially high risk for tears because of their location between two joints — the ankle and the knee. These muscles also have very tight muscle fibers, making them prone to overstretching injuries.
What is a torn calf muscle?
A torn calf muscle is an injury that causes a partial or complete tear in the muscles behind your shin bone. A calf muscle tear usually causes sudden, intense calf pain and may prevent you from walking or bearing weight on your leg. Calf muscle tears usually heal with conservative treatments, but sometimes require surgery.
What muscles do you use to rest between games?
Allowing your calf muscles to rest and recover between games, practices or workouts.
How long do you have to stay in the hospital after a calf tear?
You may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after your procedure.
Where are the calf muscles located?
Your calf muscles (the gastrocnemius and soleus) are in your lower leg, behind your shin bone. They extend from behind your knee down to your heel. These muscles can tear if you perform sudden movements that severely overstretch them. Calf muscle tears can be partial or complete (rupture).
How to stop calf pain?
Rest: Once you feel calf pain, stop doing physical activity and rest your leg. Don’t push through pain, which can make the problem worse. You might be required to use crutches or wear a boot for several days.
How to reduce swelling in calf?
Compression: Apply a compression wrap or sleeve to your calf. Compression helps reduce blood flow to the painful area and minimize swelling.
What happens if you tear your calf?
You might even hear your calf muscle “pop” when it tears. This kind of bad calf muscle injury usually results in swelling, bruising, and a lot of pain.
How to heal a pulled calf muscle?
As the pulled calf muscle heals, a warm heating pad, exercises, and stretching can all help to speed up the healing process. Advertisement.
What is the Calf Muscle?
There are 2 muscles that make up the calves in the back of your lower leg. These calf muscles are called the gastrocnemius and soleus.
What Does Pulled, Strained, or Torn Calf Muscle Feel Like?
Straining, pulling, or tearing a calf muscle can feel like something has hit the back of your leg with force. According to the journal Radiology Case Reports, people who strain or tear a calf muscle have the sensation of something snapping in their mid-calf. In many cases, it is possible to hear the muscle “pop” or tear. 5
Why does my calf hurt?
Calf muscle injuries can happen when straining tight leg muscles by accelerating fast or suddenly changing direction. Pulling or tearing a calf muscle can cause a sudden sharp pain in the back of your leg. Depending on the extent of injury to your calf muscle, you might have mild to intense pain.
Why do my legs feel tight at night?
Night leg cramps (also called nocturnal leg cramps or “charley horses”) mostly happen in the calf muscles. These are involuntary contractions or spasms of muscles in your legs usually at night during periods of inactivity that causes the calf muscles to feel tight and painful.
What is the difference between a strained, pulled, and torn calf muscle?
What is the difference between a strained, pulled, and torn calf muscle? All of these injuries to your calves can cause varying degrees of pain and damage to your lower leg muscles.
How long does it take to recover from a pulled calf muscle?
Recovery after surgery can take up to six months. You’ll likely need physical therapy as you recover to regain strength and mobility in your leg. Once you’ve had a pulled calf muscle, you have a higher risk for future strains in that area.
What is pulled calf muscle?
What is a pulled calf muscle? A pulled calf muscle, or a calf muscle strain, occurs when the muscles in your calf — the soleus and gastrocnemius — get overstretched. The calf muscles are in your lower leg behind your shin bone and extend from the base of your thigh down to your heel. They help you flex and bend your foot, ankle and knee.
What age group is most likely to pull calf muscles?
Other risk factors for pulled calf muscles include: Age: People over 40 may be more likely to get strains during physical activity. Sex: Some studies suggest that men are more likely to get calf muscle injuries.
How common are calf strains?
One study estimated that calf strains make up about 1.3% of all lower limb injuries in runners. Another study of soccer players identified gastrocnemius strains as making up 12% of all muscle injuries. Gastrocnemius strains (near the middle of the calf) are more common than soleus strains (the lower calf, closer to the heel).
What muscles do you warm up before physical activity?
Warming up and stretching your calf muscles before physical activity.
What does it feel like to flex your ankle?
Muscle pain when flexing your ankle or pointing your toes. Problems bending your knee. Snapping or popping sensation in your calf. Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg. Swelling in your calf muscle. Bruising on your calf muscle.
How long do you wear a cast after a syringe?
After surgery, you may wear a cast in plantarflexion for three weeks, and then a gentle dorsiflexion stretch cast for another three weeks. You use crutches or an assistive device to move around. Once the cast is off, your healthcare provider will tell you when you can resume light physical activity.
How to treat a calf injury?
For most cases, make sure you’re following the PRICE treatment. In addition, you can also treat your calf injury by: 1 Taking an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen 2 Wearing a brace or use crutches 3 Doing rehabilitating exercises, such as calf stretches and heel lifts
Why does my calf tear?
Calf Muscle Tear Explained. Muscle tears or strains are caused by undue pressure that usually occurs during physical activity. This damage results in a partial or full tear of the muscle fibers and attached tendons.
What are the symptoms of a torn calf muscle?
Notable symptoms for a strained or torn calf muscle are stiffness, swelling, pain, and bruising. However, depending on the severity of the injury, it can result in more specific symptoms based on grade: Grade 1 symptoms include a cramping sensation, tightness, and slight pain when the calf muscles stretch and contract.
What to do if your calf is hurting?
Taking an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Wearing a brace or use crutches. Doing rehabilitating exercises, such as calf stretches and heel lifts. If you think you or your child have a calf muscle injury, visit your nearest FastMed Urgent Care to have a medical professional evaluate its severity.
How to tell if you pulled a muscle?
Symptoms won’t be recognized until the individual stops the activity that caused the pull. Grade 2 symptoms include immediate pain (especially when stretched or contracted). Bruises may also appear where the muscle was strained, causing the area to be sore to the touch. Grade 3 symptoms include an immediate burning sensation and stabbing pain ...
What are the three grades of calf muscle strain?
There are three grades of a calf muscle strain: Grade 1 Pull: Damage to a few muscle fibers. Grade 2 Strain: Damage to a larger number of muscle fibers. Grade 3 Tear: Complete tear in the muscle.
How long does it take for a calf pull to heal?
If treated properly, it can take up to three weeks to heal Grade 1 calf pulls, four to six weeks to heal Grade 2 muscle strains, and three to four months to heal Grade 3 tears. Though this type of injury can heal on its own, it’s important to get a medical evaluation from a trained professional first before beginning treatment.
Why does my calf tear?
A calf tear happens suddenly. It is usually, but not always, due to a change in force or stress on your leg. For example leaping up a step, a sudden change in direction or a sudden acceleration (sprint training)
Where do calf tears occur?
Calf tears most commonly occur in the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle - the lumpy bit near the bottom inside part of the muscle. There will be swelling and tenderness the severity of which depends on the grade of the tear. In a grade 2 or grade 3 tear, there will be bruising which appears mostly around the inside ...
What nerves are involved in calf strain?
This type of calf strain has a significant neural component, meaning that the sciatic nerve (the nerve that runs from your lower back, down through the back of your leg, through your calf muscle, and into your foot) is involved. The combination of a stiff lower back and tight or lazy glute muscles puts stress on the sciatic nerve which means that the calf muscles' ability to contract and relax efficiently is compromised. This causes the muscle to fatigue and eventually strain or "cramp".
Why does my calf muscle get sore?
The combination of a stiff lower back and tight or lazy glute muscles puts stress on the sciatic nerve which means that the calf muscles' ability to contract and relax efficiently is compromised. This causes the muscle to fatigue and eventually strain or "cramp".
What is the most common injury in a physio clinic?
Calf muscle injuries are one of the most common injuries we see in our physio clinic.
How long does it take for a calf to ping again?
After a couple of days it feels fine to walk on, so they test it with an easy 5km run only to find it goes "ping" again after 5 minutes, and this time they decide to rest for 2 weeks. 2 weeks later, having not done anything proactive to establish the cause of the injury, they go for another easy 5km run. This time the calf was fine.
How long does it take for a calf to hurt?
A calf strain is felt as a strong cramping sensation that is usually felt down the length of the muscle, rather than across it. It can come on suddenly over the course of 2 - 3 steps and can feel like quite a sharp pain rather than just a cramp. A calf strain usually occurs about 15 - 40 minutes into a run and is not due to a change in force or acceleration, it "just happens".
How to restore calf muscle?
After resting until pain subsides, strengthening exercises and some stretching of the calf will generally restore the muscle to full function.
What is it called when your calf hurts?
So how does it happen? And how can you prevent it? Calf muscle tears, when they're minor, are called calf strains. When they're bigger, calf sprains. But both mean the tearing of part of the calf muscle. It's the result of muscles and tendons losing elasticity as we age, and it's the most common cause of calf pain in athletes.
Where is the pain in the back of the calf?
The pain is right in the middle of the back of the calf. It's hard to point your toes after it happens. Just about any athlete, except cyclists, can have a tear. Torn calf muscles are an injury of middle-aged athletes, people 35 to 55, especially weekend warriors.
Can a pop tear a muscle?
Accelerating or changing directions can tear the muscle, with a pop.
Do cyclists have the same stress as calf muscles?
The more dehydrated you are, the greater the risk. Cyclists' muscles don't go through the same stresses as the calf muscles of other athletes.
How to prevent calf muscle injury?
How to Prevent a Torn Calf Muscle 1 Warm up and stretch for at least 5 minutes before engaging in exercise or sport, and set aside time for a cool-down period of stretching to prevent cramping. 2 Use a chair stretch to loosen up your hamstrings. It's important to stretch your whole leg and body before working out, as every bit of the body is connected to the rest, and tension in one area could cause an injury in another. 3 Wall stretches allow you to focus on loosening up the back of the leg from heel to hip. 4 The floor or supine stretch helps condition your leg muscles for the prevention of injury. 5 A standing calf stretch is not only targeted for calf strength but can also be easily done just about anywhere throughout the day. 6 Supplement with amino acids to help support muscle recovery and repair with a full host of the building blocks of new protein synthesis.
What is calf rupture?
Also known as "tennis leg," calf ruptures may require surgical intervention and/or physical therapy. Prompt treatment should be sought if you suspect the injury won't improve with at-home care, as some injuries could handicap the affected leg for the rest of your life.
What muscle is used to flex the ankle and knee?
The calf is attached via the Achilles tendon to the heel of the foot. The calf muscle allows us to flex the ankle and the knee, and to run, jump, and rise to our tippy toes. It's an integral part of daily movement.
What causes calf pain?
Here's a breakdown of the different soft tissue injuries that could be causing calf pain. Calf muscle strain: Straining the calf muscle involves a tearing of the calf muscle fibers. Muscle strains can exist along a spectrum from mild cases of light pain and soreness to severe cases of complete tear. Pulled calf muscle: Another name ...
How long does it take for a calf to heal?
So long as you don't reinjure the area by resuming vigorous physical activity too soon, your body will take care of the rest. In more severe cases it could take a month to 6 weeks to fully heal an injured calf muscle, so just be sure to listen to your body before resuming sports activities.
Why does my calf hurt?
Calf muscle myositis: Another culprit that can cause calf pain is myositis, a rare inflammation of the muscle that can occur due to infections or autoimmune disorders.
What does it mean when your calf is pulled?
A milder pulled calf injury may come with symptoms like redness, bruising, mild swelling, and an inability to stand up on the ball of your foot. Depending on the severity of the injury, these types of sprains can usually be treated at home with RICE and other healing aids. RICE stands for:
How to help calf muscle pain?
A calf muscle strain that tears will produce copious local swelling, accompanied by leg pain and possible muscle cramps or spasms. Applying a cold pack immediately after injury to the gastrocnemius muscle will help contain the inflammation and provide pain relief.
What is the best treatment for a muscle tear?
The Cleveland Clinic lists over-the-counter drugs and corticosteroid injections as treatments for the acute inflammation caused by a muscle tear. Nonprescription aspirin or ibuprofen is effective for moderate leg pain, while a doctor-administered shot in the affected muscle tissue may be necessary for otherwise uncontrollable pain.
What is a torn gastrocnemius muscle?
A torn gastrocnemius muscle is a severe injury to the back of the calf area of the leg. During a muscle strain, the muscle tissue fibers disengage and separate slightly. An excessive strain can tear this tissue so that any strength imparted by cohesion of the muscle fibers is lost.
How to get gastrocnemius muscle back?
Rehab Exercise . Returning to exercise gradually will ease the gastrocnemius muscle and the rest of the body back into strength and fitness. A professional physical therapy exam and exercise program take the guesswork out of meeting individual needs without causing re-injury.
Can a torn calf muscle heal on its own?
A torn calf muscle can heal on its own , but in cases in which pain and weakness persist, surgery may be a valid option. As the NYU Langone Medical Center notes, magnetic resonance imaging tests help doctors decide whether or not an operation is necessary to a patient’s recovery. Advertisement.
