how to repair a pulled calf muscle

What is the recovery time for a calf injury?

The recovery timeline for most patients is as follows:

• One hour after injury: ice and elevate the affected leg to reduce swelling. ...
• Three days after injury: applying heat to the injury can be beneficial at this stage as a form of pain relief. ...
• One week after injury: minor and moderate injuries should begin to feel slightly better at this point with the proper amount of rest. ...

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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. ...

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 treat a torn calf muscle?

• Fill a clean cotton sock with rice and leave about 3 inches clear at the top.
• Tie a knot in the sock, making sure that there is still some flexibility in the sock.
• Place in the microwave and heat on full power for 1-2 minutes.
• Wrap the rice-filled heating pad in a warm moist towel.

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How long does a pulled calf muscle take to heal?

In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. But a full recovery may take up to six weeks, according to Oxford University Hospitals. Severe swelling can make any pain and discomfort last a bit longer. Walking on recovering calf muscles can also increase recovery time.

Should you stretch a pulled calf muscle?

People should rest and avoid strenuous activity while their calf muscle heals. However, it is possible to use gentle stretches and physical therapy to maintain mobility and stabilize the knee and ankle joints while the calf heals.

How do you know if your calf muscle is pulled?

Symptoms of a torn calf muscle can include: No calf strength, including being unable to balance or bear weight on the injured leg. Snapping or popping sensation in your calf. Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg, like someone kicked your calf.

Should you massage a calf strain?

A correctly sized compression bandage can also be applied to help limit bleeding and swelling in the injured area. The No HARM protocol should also be applied which includes no heat, alcohol, running or activity, and no massage. This will help ensure decreased bleeding and swelling in the injured area.

Can a calf tear heal on its own?

Surgical Repair. A torn calf muscle can heal on its own, but in cases in which pain and weakness persist, surgery may be a valid option.

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.

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.

How do I know if my calf injury is serious?

Signs and SymptomsSwelling in the area of the strain.Bruising in the affected area(s).Weakness in the calf when trying to walk, climb stairs, or stand.You limp when walking.You can't do daily activities that require standing and walking.You can't run, jump, or put weight on the affected leg.

When should you start stretching a calf strain?

NO stretching or resistive exercise should be done during the first 3 weeks. As a general rule of thumb, any activity that elicits pain at or near the injured site may be causing further injury and will only hamper your recovery effort.

When should I start stretching a torn calf muscle?

three weeksStretches should not be started until three weeks after an injury, according to the Boston Sports Medicine and Research Institute. It's common to feel a pulling sensation in your calf when stretching, but if you feel pain, you're stretching too far.

What stretches are good for a pulled calf muscle?

0:191:51Top Exercises & Stretches for Calf Strains - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first one we'll do is a gastroc stretch to do this you'll put your foot up against the wallMoreThe first one we'll do is a gastroc stretch to do this you'll put your foot up against the wall making sure that your toes are straight you'll gently lean forward into the wall with a straight knee.

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...

How to treat a pulled calf muscle?

In the meantime, you can use the following home treatments: Ice or cold compresses. Wrap these in a soft cloth and place on your calf for 10 minutes.

How long does it take for a pulled calf muscle to heal?

In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. But a full recovery may take up to six weeks, according to Oxford University Hospitals. Severe swelling can make any pain and discomfort last a bit longer. Walking on recovering calf muscles can also increase recovery time.

What does it mean when your calf is pulled?

A pulled calf muscle happens when your internal muscles are overstretched from exercise. This is a common injury, especially among athletes and runners. Pulled calf muscles may be chronic from long-term injury or acute from brief overpulling.

How to tell if you pulled your calf?

Symptoms of a pulled calf muscle can depend on the severity of the injury. A mild strain can leave you with pain and feelings of pulling within the lower half of your leg. You can still walk with a mild strain, but it may be uncomfortable. Other signs of a pulled calf muscle include: mild swelling. redness.

What is pulled calf?

Pulled calf muscle. A pulled calf muscle refers to strains within the two muscles in the lower back of your leg that make up your calf. They’re called the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. When a strain occurs, muscle fibers are torn to some degree. A pulled calf muscle happens when your internal muscles are overstretched from exercise.

How to prevent calf muscle strains?

You can help prevent muscle strains and pulled calf muscles by: warming up for at least five minutes before exercise, including deep stretches. stretching your legs before exercising. cooling down for five minutes after you work out. stretching your muscles again for five minutes after you’ve cooled down.

How to strengthen calf muscles?

Ask your doctor about the following exercises you can try at home during your calf muscle recovery: Chair stretches. Sitting in a stable chair, bend and straighten the knee of your affected leg for 10 repetitions at a time. Wall stretches.

How to treat a torn calf muscle?

Once you know that, you'll know how to treat the injury successfully. For minor calf strains, the best approach is rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

What is the best way to diagnose calf muscle pain?

X-rays, bone scans, MRI, CT scan and ultrasound are modalities that specialists may use to help diagnose your lower leg pain. Calf muscle injuries are relatively common among those who play tennis, basketball, football, soccer and volleyball, as well as those who run track and field.

What muscles are involved in the lower leg?

The two muscles that work in conjunction to form the lower leg (or calf) are the deeper soleus muscle and the more superficial (closer to the skin) gastrocnemius muscle . These muscles connect the heel to the back of the knee and act to plantar flex the ankle and extend the knee, which is necessary for walking, running, jumping and kicking. A calf strain injury usually occurs the mid leg and/or knee within the muscle belly. 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). Getting a proper diagnosis of your calf muscle strain is crucial because it determines the type of treatment protocols you should follow.

How to tell between gastrocnemius and soleus strain?

With a more serious strain, it's important to distinguish which muscle is involved to the greater extent: the deeper soleus or the more superficial "heads" of the gastrocnemius. MRI or diagnostic ultrasound may be needed to best diagnose the location and degree of the injury. Grade II strains involve more extensive damage, up to 90% of the muscle fibers may be torn. These injuries present with more pain (described as sharp in nature), significant loss of muscle strength and range of motion. Swelling is more severe and bruising quickly develops because of the internal bleeding from the torn muscle fibers.

Why do calf stretches help?

Practice calf stretches. Mild muscle strains respond well to some light stretching because it relieves muscle tension and promotes blood flow. Following the inflammatory phase of a muscle strain injury, some scar tissue forms, which is not as flexible as muscle fiber.

How long should I ice my calf?

This protocol is still appropriate for Grade II strains, although you may have to keep the ice on your calf for a little longer (up to 20 minutes at a time) if the deeper soleus muscle is the primary site of injury. Instead of using R.I.C.E for a few days as is the case with a mild strain, more severe strains will likely require attention for a week or more.

How to know if calf strain is serious?

1. Identify the seriousness of the injury. Most calf strains are minor injuries and self-heal within a week -- the degree of pain, disability and bruising are good indicators of seriousness. Grade I muscle strains involve micro-tears of up to 10% of the muscle fibers.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

Why do my calves pull?

Doctors from the National Health Service (NHS) say that calf strains are commonly caused by putting too much force on the calf muscles.

How long does it take for a calf to heal from a pull?

A grade 1 calf muscle injury will take between one and 3 weeks to heal.

What is a pulled calf muscle?

A pulled or strained calf muscle affects the muscles and tendons in the back of the lower leg. A strain refers to an injured muscle or tendon. Tendons are the cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. A strain occurs when the fibers of the muscle or tendon partially or completely tear.

How to tell if calf muscle is pulled?

A doctor can diagnose a pulled calf muscle by carrying out a physical examination, during which they will check for swelling, bruising, and redness. They may also ask the person to describe any recent changes to their regular physical activity routine.

How to treat a calf sprain?

People can use a cold compress to reduce inflammation and relieve muscle pain during the first 2 days, when they should apply a cold compress to the calf for 20 minutes up to eight times a day.

What does it mean when your calf is pulled?

Pulled calf muscle: Symptoms and what to do. A pulled or strained calf muscle affects the muscles and tendons in the back of the lower leg. A strain refers to an injured muscle or tendon. Tendons are the cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones.

How long does it take for a pulled calf muscle to heal?

Depending on the severity of the injury, a pulled calf muscle can take several weeks or months to heal. A doctor may recommend surgery to treat a severely strained or torn calf muscle.

How to help a sore leg after a calf injury?

After this time, hot packs can help ease muscle soreness and stiffness. Wraps and bandages. Wrapping the injured calf in an elastic bandage or compression sock can help prevent swelling and inflammation. Elevation of the injured leg. People can rest their leg on a pillow or a rolled-up blanket or towel.

What are the different grades of muscle injuries?

Trusted Source. ” based on the severity of a person’s symptoms and the extent of the muscle damage. Grade 1 (mild): Grade 1 injuries cause minimal muscle damage, although there may be a sharp pain at the time of the injury.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

How to prevent calf cramps?

Here are some stretches and strengthening exercises you can use to help minimize the risk of calf injury and hopefully prevent future sprains and injuries. 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.

How long does it take for a calf strain to heal?

The earlier the treatment, the better the outcome. In a grade 1 strain recovery is roughly 2 weeks.

Why do my calf muscles strain?

A calf strain occurs when the calf muscles are over stretched. This can be caused by a sudden, abrupt movement or as a result of over use. Insufficient warm up or cool down is a common cause of calf strain. A sudden change of direction.

How to tell if you have a calf strain?

What are the Symptoms of a Calf Strain. A sudden sharp pain in the lower leg. Pain/ache in the calf, usually mid calf. Pain on resisted plantar flexion (pointed toe) or when standing on pointed toes. A sensation of being hit on the back of the lower leg. A burning/stabbing sensation.

What is calf strain?

A calf strain occurs as a result of these muscles being torn or pulled. When a muscle is stretched, small micro tears occur in the muscle fibres. The severity of these tears depends on the depth and suddenness of the stretch. There are three different degrees of calf strain: grade 1 is a mild strain, grade 2 moderate to severe pain ...

What muscles are involved in calf flexion?

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. These 3 muscles are referred to as ‘the triceps surae’, and they attach to the Achilles tendon. They are responsible for extending the foot (plantar flexion) and bending the leg at the knee joint.

What is the best exercise for a chronic calf and toe raise?

A physiotherapist or sports massage therapist can recommend strengthen ing, flexibility and proprioceptive exercises in the sub-acute and the chronic stage of recovery. Exercises should focus on stretching and strengthening, focusing on the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles; for example calf and toe raises. The intensity of the exercises should be increased gradually and in a controlled way. Resistance bands are good for gentle stretching.

How long does pain last after a workout?

Pain/discomfort can be felt after the activity, and can last from between 2-5 days

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.