A calf tear is a very common injury for runners as your calf performs a fast and large contraction when you run. Grade 2 calf muscle injury. Dixon JB. All our clinics are staffed by highly qualified and expert physiotherapists whose motivation is to find the cause of your problem & return you to pre-injury fitness as soon as possible. Copyright ©2019 sydneyphysiosolutions.com.au. Pain will be significant and will cause weakness in the lower leg muscle and make walking difficult. A muscle strain refers to the stretching or tearing of muscle fibers. This pain will build as you continue your activity and there may be obvious swelling and inflammation. Tearing your calf muscle is an injury often sustained when you are building up speed when running or through a sudden change to the direction you are running in. Recovery takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks if you do all the right things. Redness or bruising 3. With a grade I strain, you shouldn't have any trouble walking around and completing daily activities. A mild strain can leave you with pain and feelings of pulling within the lower half of your leg. If the tear is not complete, your doctor will send you home with instructions for self-care using the RICE treatment protocol. A sudden change of direction, explosive movement or increase in speed can result in the calf muscles becoming torn or strained. Jody Braverman is a professional writer and editor based in Atlanta. This will ensure decreased bleeding and swelling in the injured area. Allowing adequate recovery time between workouts or training sessions. With calf muscle tears, the muscles of the Achilles complex are most likely to be damaged. A sudden pain at the back of the leg, particularly at the muscular tendinous junction. Your doctor will want to know what you were doing when you were injured. You may see a gap or dent where the muscle is torn. Keeping calf muscles strong so they can absorb the energy of sudden physical stress. calf raises. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body, and it connects two calf muscles (the gastrocnemius and the soleus) to the heel. She studied creative writing at the American University of Paris and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland. Typically a torn calf muscle refers to a complete tear, rather than just a muscle strain. Limited motion 4. Calf strain may be minor or very severe. How to Care for a Torn Calf Muscle. At the time of injury, you may hear a popping sound or feel a tearing sensation in your calf. There is partial tearing of muscle fibres. These three muscles are the gastrocnemius, the soleus, and the plantaris. A calf strain occurs when the calf muscles are over stretched. 2009;2(2):74-7. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9045-8. Although he is one of the most experienced and sought after Doctors of Physiotherapy in Australia, Brad makes all his patients feel like they are #1. Depending on the degree of bruising and swelling, a palpable defect in the muscle may be evident. Depending on the severity of the calf tear, the injury could take up to 6 weeks to heal. If the tear is not complete, your doctor will send you home with instructions for self-care using the RICE treatment protocol. Your calf muscle is referred to as a single muscle, but it is actually two separate muscles: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. If the Soleus muscle is damaged pain might be incurred lower in the leg and when contracting the muscle against resistance with the knee bent. This is an often painful injury that will require immediate medical attention. Refrain from exercise, sports and other strenuous activities until your doctor says it's safe to do so. Symptoms of a grade 2 calf tear usually last 4-6 weeks Grade 3 Symptoms With a grade 3 there is a large tear where there is complete rupture of the calf muscle i.e. A correctly sized compression bandage should be applied to limit bleeding and swelling in the injured area. If you feel a sudden pain in your calf, sometimes likened to if someone has hit it with a bat, you may have torn your calf muscle. Treatment for a gastrocnemius muscle tear. Understand what can get injured in your calf. All Rights Reserved. A partial tear of the calf muscle results in a moderate, or grade 2 calf muscle injury. Swelling 6. Managing Director BSc (ExSci) MPT (Physio) DPT (Physio) CSCS APAM MSMA. Spasms, or sudden involuntary contractions, of the calf muscle. 2) Torn finger extensor muscle: Mallet finger. The symptoms don't really explain how a torn calf muscle feels. Learning the proper technique for exercise and sporting activities. The leg should be rested in an elevated position with an ice pack applied for 20 minutes every two hours (never apply ice directly to the skin). During recovery, it's important to avoid any activity that might cause reinjury. tennis, squash). Symptoms of a calf injury are usually a sharp pain, followed by swelling or bruising. More muscle fibers are affected and the pain and swelling are more severe. Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries. As this type of severe calf muscle tear results in complete loss of function, performing any activity will be challenging if not impossible. Muscle strains are categorized based on the extent of the damage and the symptoms you might experience 2. Difficulty in contracting the muscle or standing on tiptoe. tennis, squash). What are they symptoms of a calf muscle tear injury? A tear or rupture of the Achilles tendon causes acute pain at the back of the ankle or lower leg (lower than the calf muscle) and an … 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). This occurs as the muscle separates in two or as it rips away from the tendon that attaches it to bone. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Your recovery will depend on your individual injury. Few muscle fibers are overstretched or torn programs to develop strength,,! All injuries are different, some of the leg, particularly at the American University of and. Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland last for only a few.! According to Harvard Health Publishing, mild muscle strains are categorized based the. Between workouts or training sessions, followed by swelling or bruising in the muscle is similar to of! 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You do all the right things over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to! To the stretching or tearing of muscle fibers and editor based in Atlanta her yoga!
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