A strained calf muscle is a partial tear of the small fibers of the muscles. The calf muscles are located in the back of your lower leg.
A calf strain can be caused by:
These factors increase your chance of a strain. Risk factors for calf muscle strain include:
Symptoms of calf muscle strain include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They will also ask about your recent physical activity and how the injury occurred. The doctor will also examine your calf for:
Muscle strains are graded according to their severity.
For a severe calf strain, athletes may have an MRI scans. The scan will help predict the length of their recovery.
Treatment depends on the severity of the strain.
Treatment usually includes:
Take aspirin , ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help relieve pain. If you still have tenderness in the calf while taking these drugs, do not return to physical activity. Check with your doctor.
Start within first 24 hours:
Continued care:
If you are diagnosed with a calf muscle strain, follow your doctor's instructions .
To reduce the chance that you will strain a calf muscle:
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
http://www.aapmr.org/
American Council on Exercise
http://www.acefitness.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology
http://www.csep.ca/
Healthy Living Unit
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/fitness/
References:
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Available at: http://www.sportsmed.org/.
Armfield DR. Sports-related muscle injury in the lower extremity. Clin Sports Med . 2006;25(4):803-42.
Hamstring strains: expediting return to play. The Physician and Sportsmedicine . 1996;24(8).
Renstrom P, et al. Sports Injuries: Basic Principles of Prevention and Care . Boston, MA: Blackwell Scientific Publications;1993.
Runner's Resource Guide: Basic Stretching Exercises. Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma website. Available at: http://www.nismat.org/traintip/runner/stretch.html . Last accessed: July 7, 2008.
The Foot and Ankle. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00144 . Last accessed July 7, 2008.
Last reviewed September 2009 by Robert E. Leach, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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