30/01/2023
🔴Calf Strain or Tear🔴
▪️ 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.
🔴Symptoms
▪️ Sudden pain in the back of the lower leg
▪️ 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.
▪️ Bruising usually occurs within a day or 2 of the injury.
🔴 Causes
Calf strain occurs during activities that involve pushing off on the toes, such as running or jumping, or sports that require explosive muscle contractions, such as tennis, squash or football.
🔹🔹Other Causes of calf muscle's pain🔹🔹
1️⃣ Muscle cramp:
Calf muscle cramps are usually temporary but can cause significant pain and discomfort. Commonly seen in those who exercise frequently.
Causes of calf muscle cramps include:
▪️ Dehydration
▪️ Loss of electrolytes through sweating
▪️ Lack of stretching
▪️ Prolonged physical activity
▪️ Weak muscles
2️⃣ Arterial claudication
▪️ A person may experience calf pain due to narrowing or blockages in the arteries that supply blood flow to the legs. This is known as arterial claudication.
▪️ Arterial claudication may cause pain while walking, as this movement requires blood to flow to the lower legs.
▪️ A person with arterial claudication will experience no discomfort at rest, but pain after a few minutes of walking.
3️⃣ Neurogenic claudication
Neurogenic claudication occurs when the nerves that go to the legs are pinched, affecting their ability to communicate with the lower legs.
Sciatica is one example of neurogenic claudication.
In addition to calf pain, neurogenic claudication symptoms include:
▪️ pain while walking
▪️ pain after prolonged standing
▪️ pain that also occurs in the thighs, lower back, or buttocks
▪️ pain that usually improves when a person leans forward at the waist
A person may also experience calf pain from Neurogenic claudication when at rest.
4️⃣ Achilles tendinitis:
▪️ The Achilles tendon is a tough, fibrous band that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone.
If a person’s calf muscles are especially tight, this may put extra pressure on the Achilles tendon. As a result, a person can experience calf pain.
Other less common causes of calf muscles pain are
5⃣ Compartment syndrome
6️⃣ Diabetic neuropathy
7⃣ Plantar fasciitis
8⃣ Varicose veins
9⃣ Deep vein thrombosis
🔴Management
Treatment for calf pain will depend on the underlying cause.
✅ Initial treatment of calf strain / tear is:
PRICE method. This stands for:
▪️ Protection: Apply a cloth bandage, splint, or immobilizer to the foot, ankle, or calf to protect the injury and allow the muscles to rest.
▪️ Rest: Avoid using the calf muscle more than necessary.
▪️ Ice: Apply ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes at a time to help reduce inflammation.
▪️ Compression: Wrap the calf in a stretchy, tight bandage or wear a compression stocking to reduce swelling.
▪️ Elevation: Elevate the leg on pillows to help promote circulation and reduce swelling.
👉 After 48 hours, stretching and strengthening exercises should be started. Heel raises and calf stretches form the basis of these exercises and should be gradually progressed in number of repetitions and load before returning to sport.
🔹🔹Other causes of calf pain may be treated with Physical therapy (pain management, stretching and soft tissue mobilization) and medications depending on the underlying cause.🔹🔹
Physical therapy includes
1️⃣ Pain management by Cold packs/hot packs, Ultra sound TENS etc
2️⃣ Stretching exercises.
3️⃣ Soft tissue mobilization.
4️⃣ Theraputic massage
🔴🔴When ti seek emergency help or treatment? 🔴🔴
⚠️ Symptoms of DVT include pain swelling, and warmth in one leg.
Other signs a person should seek emergency treatment for calf pain include:
⚠️ fever that is greater than 100°F
⚠️ swollen leg that is pale or cool to the touch
⚠️ sudden extreme swelling in the legs
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