Calf Strain Therapy & Treatment
What Is A Calf Strain?
The calf complex is an essential component during movement and weight-bearing activities, especially when needed for explosive power and endurance. Injuries to this area impact various sporting disciplines and athletic populations. Calf strains most commonly occur in sports involving high-speed running or increased volumes of running load, acceleration and deceleration as well as when fatigue sets in.
A calf strain is a sudden partial or complete tear of the muscle at the back of the lower leg (usually the medial head of the gastrocnemius). The tear causes some bleeding within the muscle tissue, which impedes normal function and can cause significant pain. If the injury is severe enough, the individual will be unable to bear weight or walk normally.
What does a calf strain feel like?
A calf strain happens suddenly and is accompanied by sudden, acute pain. When it occurs, the individual may feel or hear a pull, tear, or pop in the muscle. Some patients report feeling as though they have been kicked in the back of the leg. The leg normally swells and bruising can develop. Pain to the touch and when putting weight on it, especially when rising up on the toes, is common.
Can I Run With A Calf Strain?
Running with a strained calf will depend on a number of factors including the severity of the injury. Initially, a runner may have significant pain and swelling, and should avoid running especially in moderate to severe strains. The muscle is torn, and so are the blood vessels that service it. People who run during this initial phase typically experience more pain, and thus know to stop running. But err on the side of caution; overusing a strained calf can result in more bleeding, pain and damage to the muscle. There is risk of reinjury and prolonged recovery if not managed properly.
Eventually though, the runner should be able to get back out on the road and run, even through minor pain. Once a certain point of healing has been reached, it is important to introduce gradual load and strength through the calf, and return to running. The amount of time required for healing depends on the person’s age, constitution, overall health, and severity of the strain.
How long Does it Take a Calf Strain to Heal?
Again, it depends on the individual and severity of the strain. Common medical practice designates three different categories of strain. The more severe the strain, the longer the recovery time. Each is described here in brief.
Different Grade levels of Calf Strain
Grade 1 Strain
A grade 1 strain is a mild strain in which only a few muscle fibers are stretched or torn. The bleeding inside the muscle is minor, and although the muscle may be tender with mild discomfort or pain, it still has normal strength and range of motion. This is the most common type of strain, and it typically requires 1 to 3 weeks to heal.
Grade 2 Strain
A grade 2 strain will have several torn or strained muscle fibers, and more bleeding, which can leave a bruise. It will also likely have swelling, and a noticeable loss of strength and range of motion. People with grade II strains generally require 3 to 6 weeks to completely heal and return to full activity.
Grade 3 Strain
A grade 3 strain is a complete rupture of the muscle. This severe injury results in significant swelling and bruising, as the muscle has pulled away from the connecting tendon, or is torn in two pieces. 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). Such injuries require immediate attention.
How do you treat a calf strain?
Calf strains rarely require surgery, however, because there are three different levels of severity for calf strains they require three different levels of treatment. Everyone heals at different rates, so these are basic guidelines. Always consult a healthcare professional for specific information or emergent situations.
As soon as the injury occurs, you should start injury management with the PEACE and LOVE principles. Protect, Elevate, Avoid anti-inflammatory modalities, Compress, and Educate make up the PEACE principle. Load, Optimism, Vascularisation, and Exercise make up the LOVE principle. The grade of stain sustained is a big factor into how best to utilize this principle, so expert advice is highly recommended.
Grade 1 & 2 Strain
As we stated earlier, a grade 1 strain involves little to no loss of strength or function and you can continue to use the muscle for standing, walking, etc. A grade 2 strain is more severe with clear loss of range of motion and strength. Gentle passive stretching to start, leading into active stretches can be performed to maintain range of motion and improve muscle flexibility. An individualized graded exercise program is essential to load the tissues and promote a return to sport. The sooner we can implement these individualized exercises, the more rapid recovery should be.
Grade 3 Strain
A grade 3 strain requires examination by a doctor. Your doctor may schedule surgery if a complete rupture is evident. After surgery, the doctor will recommend a prescribed plan of action for reducing swelling and managing pain. He or she will also assign a musculoskeletal specialist such as a physical therapist, sports chiropractor or physiatrist to assist you with rehabbing your injury, which will follow a slower progression of the graded exercises program mentioned above. Recovery can take several months until you’re able to fully return to activity.
Although some of this research can be done on your own, getting a proper assessment from a licensed sports chiropractor, or physical therapist is highly recommended. Your therapist will create a plan specifically for you that will often enable you to recover 100% of your strength and motion, getting you back to the activities you love!
Choosing Radius Clinic
Radius Clinic serves Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, and El Dorado Counties, providing high-quality sports therapy for patients with all kinds of injuries or performance limitations. Our experts can help you recover from surgery (or avoid surgery), regain strength and range of motion following injuries, manage pain, and prevent recurrent injury. All of our professionals are experts in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and we take great care to make you feel welcome and supported on your treatment journey to recovery. If you are suffering from a calf injury, give us a call or schedule a Telehealth appointment with us! We’ll get you up and running again, safely and as quickly as possible.