A pop in the muscle at the time of injury 6. You can also do some exercises on your own when you are ready: Read more: The Best Way to Heal a Torn Calf Muscle. Difficulty walking 5. Mild muscle strain can cause pain that feels similar to post-workout soreness. Pain at rest. Even if you have not spoken to your doctor yet, you can begin RICE until your doctor gives you further instructions. It is a common injury and is often caused by overstretching or by putting excess force through the calf muscle. These muscles stretch from the calf down to the Achilles tendon … Sudden instances of “pushing off” quickly to change position can also cause tears with the calf muscles. More muscle fibers are affected and the pain and swelling are more severe. Injury to the calf muscle can occur during athletic activities. Dixon JB. The symptoms don't really explain how a torn calf muscle feels. Muscle strain. At the time of injury, you may hear a popping sound or feel a tearing sensation in your calf. However, like most injuries, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of a calf tear. Muscle swelling, discoloration or both 3. Only a few muscle fibers are overstretched or torn. Read more: The Best Way to Heal a Torn Calf Muscle. 2009;2(2):74-77. While strains often feel like a mild to moderate pulling sensation, complete tears of the calf muscle can feel sharp, often leaving the individual not being able to walk. The torn calf muscle may also show signs of bruising in your lower leg behind the knee. Limited motion 4. An excessive strain can tear this tissue so that any strength imparted by cohesion of the muscle fibers is lost. A torn gastrocnemius muscle is a severe injury to the back of the calf area of the leg. While fractures are more traumatic and not necessarily as common, muscle tears and strains can be wildly more common in endurance training like running, sprinting, etc. Calf tears are no different. There may be some bruising as well as muscle weakness. A pop in the muscle at the time of injury 6. Torn muscle or muscle strain refers to a partial or complete rupture of the fibers of the muscle, causing pain or inability to move a particular part of the body. ➜ With the passage of time, inflammation may occur. Symptoms If … Compression wraps- used to provide stability and compression to muscle which reduces swelling and inflammation. The recovery times for calf tears are as follows: To prevent the pain and set back of a torn calf, taking actions ahead of physical activity will help you maintain performance and avoid a long recovery period. A muscle tear, however, involves a ripping of a muscle or tendon, with complete separation of muscle fibers. In extreme cases of complete muscle tears, surgery may be an option to repair the muscle and its tissues. Typically a torn calf muscle refers to a complete tear, rather than just a muscle strain. Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries. Calf problems - Muscle, bone and joint injuries | NHS inform If you develop sudden pain in your calf muscle during activity, it very well may be due to a torn or pulled calf muscle. Signs and symptoms A sudden pain at the back of the leg, particularly at the muscular tendinous junction. The location and intensity of your pain can help determine the extent and nature of the damage.In more severe injuries, where the muscle or tendon has been completely ruptured, your doctor may be able to see or feel a defect in the area of injury. A severe tear in the calf muscle may even prevent you from walking at all. There is also a third, maybe lesser-known muscle that completes the calf complex, the plantaris muscle, which lies between the gastrocnemius and soleus. All muscle strains and tears are typically graded on the severity and damage of the muscle. With a grade I strain, you shouldn't have any trouble walking around and completing daily activities. Grade III: Even without surgical intervention, recovery time for a complete tear of the calf muscle can be 3 to 4 months. Go to Calf strain diagnosis tool. Calf muscle strains are graded from 1 to 3, with grade 3 being the most severe. Symptoms of a gastrocnemius muscle tear. The calf also consists of the smaller muscles, the soleus, which is a small flat muscle that lies directly beneath the gastrocnemius muscles. It is crucial to make this distinction between the two terms because of the sheer gravity of a muscle tear (and recovery). The symptoms of mild to moderate muscle strains usually go away within a … Wrap the lower leg in an elastic bandage to reduce swelling and provide support for weakened muscles. Some of the muscle breakdown products, such as the protein myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to kidney failure.. Symptoms of muscle strain include: Swelling, bruising, or redness due to the injury. A grade III strain is the most serious, resulting in a complete tear. Typically a torn calf muscle refers to a complete tear, rather than just a muscle strain. But more intense and debilitating injuries like muscle strains, tears, or bone fractures can create a more intensive recovery and rehabilitation for the individual. Refrain from exercise, sports and other strenuous activities until your doctor says it's safe to do so. Your doctor may also recommend that you use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain and swelling. Pain and swelling or bruising in the calf muscle. Grade II tears can take two to three months and grade III tears may take several months. These muscles include hamstrings, quadriceps, and the smaller muscles; the gastrocnemius, or the calf muscle. You may see a gap or dent where the muscle is torn. Jody Braverman is a professional writer and editor based in Atlanta. Your calf muscle is referred to as a single muscle, but it is actually two separate muscles: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. A grade I strain is mild. 2. She studied creative writing at the American University of Paris and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland. Pain usually increases when you move the muscle, but it is relieved by rest. Pain that is throbbing while at rest but sharp and stabbing when you attempt to stand or walk. If you are feeling pain or discomfort during physical activity, it is important to pull back and even remove yourself entirely to make sure you do not exacerbate your pain and make it worse. This pain will build as you continue your activity and there may be obvious swelling and inflammation. Keeping your knees straight, rise slowly up onto your toes, and then lower your heels down slightly below the level of the step until you feel a slight stretch. There may be mild pain and swelling, but the muscle is otherwise in good condition with no loss of strength or function. Mechanism of injury and symptoms of a calf muscle tear: A calf tear happens suddenly. Depending on the severity of the damage to the muscle, symptoms of a torn calf can vary. The symptoms don't really explain how a torn calf muscle feels. Symptoms of a torn calf muscle include pain, swelling, bruising and weakness or loss of function. Depending on the severity of the damage to the muscle, symptoms of a torn calf can vary. If the tear is not complete, your doctor will send you home with instructions for self-care using the RICE treatment protocol. 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. While physical activity can improve cardiovascular endurance, maintain strength and flexibility, or simply relieve stress, it can also lead to minor or severe injuries. It is also helpful to stretch after activity. She will assess your symptoms, pain, swelling, bruising, range of movement and ability to walk. Muscle cramp or spasm 4. These severe injuries can be devastating and painful. With a grade II strain, walking may be painful and some activities may be limited. LAT, ATC, CES | Athletic Trainer, NCFC Youth. This method involves: RICE is most effective when initiated immediately after the injury and continued for at least 48 hours. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, The Pain in My Right Calf Hurts More When I Squat. The mere recovery for a torn calf can be just as taxing as the rehabilitation itself. Especially if you heard or felt a pop at the time of injury, you should call your doctor right away. Sources of treatment include: Different grades of muscle tears require different timeframes for recovery. These 3 muscles are referred to as ‘the triceps surae’, and they attach to the Achilles tendon. Knee Pain in the Medial Collateral Ligament When Running, some of the sensations you might experience. When one or both of these muscles are overstretched, the muscle fibers can tear, resulting in various symptoms, including pain and swelling. Muscle Strain Symptoms. Torn calf muscles are a common injury linked to physical activity. Muscle weakness With calf muscle tears, the muscles of the Achilles complex are most likely to be damaged. If the tear is not complete, your doctor will send you home with instructions for self-care using the RICE treatment protocol. In some cases, individuals often experience the dreaded “gunshot” feeling, a sensation described as getting shot in the calf due to the sharp pain they experience with the muscle tear. However, it is common to experience the following symptoms: A calf tear is a very common injury for runners as your calf performs a fast and large contraction when you run. As this type of severe calf muscle tear results in complete loss of function, performing any activity will be challenging if not impossible. In extreme tears, a noticeable deformity in the muscle belly can be observed. Physical therapy, strengthening, and treatment need to be heavily utilized. Grade 1 symptoms include a cramping sensation, tightness, and slight pain when the calf muscles … 2. Symptoms of a strained leg muscle can include: 1. While flexion at the knee is primarily performed by the hamstrings, the calf muscles work in unison with the hamstrings to help with flexion at the knee joint. Typical symptoms for each grade of pulled calf muscle include: Grade 1 Symptoms With a grade 1 calf strain, only a few of the muscle fibres are damaged, up to approximately 10%. These muscles are the lateral (outside) and medial (inside) heads of the gastrocnemius. Symptoms may include muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, and confusion. If your doctor is still unsure of the extent of the injury, she may order more tests, including X-rays and magnetic image resonance (MRI). Muscle pain and tenderness, especially after an activity that stretches or violently contracts the muscle -- Pain usually increases when you move the muscle but is relieved by rest. ), Kinesiology at Louisiana Tech University. The severity of the symptoms and the course of treatment depend on the extensiveness of the tear. 2009;2(2):74-7. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9045-8. Sharp pain when you move or stretch the ankle or knee. Some helpful tips to prevent calf tears include: Doing movements to get the lower extremities moving 5-10 minutes before activity. Ultrasound often can help distinguish among several different types of soft tissue injuries. Shar… Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. While the terms strain and tear are used interchangeably, they reflect different states of damage to the muscle. Though muscle tears and strains can occur anywhere on the body, tears within the lower body and lower legs are more frequent while running or endurance training. Refrain from exercise, sports or other strenuous activities, MyHealth.Alberta.ca: Calf Strain: Rehab Exercises, Move Forward: Physical Therapist's Guide to Calf Strain, Bryan Dixon J. Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries. Bruising. Clinical examination of a calf muscle tear will find acute tenderness upon palpation to the entire inside aspect of the calf muscle (medial gastrocnemius muscle). What are the symptoms? Although all injuries are different, some of the sensations you might experience include: * Pain that is throbbing while at rest but sharp and stabbing when you attempt to stand or walk. With a complete tear, your doctor will likely refer you to an orthopedic specialist for further treatment. According to Harvard Health Publishing, mild muscle strains will heal within a few weeks 2. A physical therapy program can help you safely regain strength in your calf muscle and restore flexibility. The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles extend down the back of the lower leg, forming the Achilles tendon behind the heel/ankle joint. Although all injuries are different, some of the sensations you might experienceinclude: 1. Grade I: Anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks following proper physical therapy and treatment. Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include: 1. Master of Science (M.S. Stretching of the ankle in an upward direction (dorsiflexion) will produce moderate to severe pain (due to stretching of th… Your doctor will examine your leg and calf muscles, ask questions about your lifestyle and how you might have injured it, and maybe even take X-rays of your lower leg (to rule out a fracture of the tibia and fibula bones). If your doctor is still unsure of the extent of the injury, she may order more tests, including X-rays and magnetic image resonance (MRI). With a more severe strain, you will feel a sudden sharp pain at the back of the lower leg at the time of injury. Most common and in the 30-50-year-old age range, these injuries can be surprisingly uncomfortable. The calf is the muscle component in the back of a person’s lower leg. The gastrocnemius consists of two muscles that run along the posterior (back) of the lower leg. “I want to show more than 50 seconds out of 4 years of hard work”, Get Fit during the Holidays with this Christmas Workout, Runner’s Heart: Causes, Risks and Health Advice for Athlete Runners. Nevertheless, strains and tears can both cause discomfort for an individual, but the severity of each is very clear cut. Copyright © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. 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