Full Answer
How long does it take for a torn calf muscle to heal?
Nov 07, 2019 · In more severe cases it could take a month to 6 weeks to fully heal an injured calf muscle, so just be sure to listen to your body before resuming sports activities. Torn Calf Muscle Recovery Time Symptoms of a torn calf that don't improve after a few days or start to worsen could be a sign of a more severe tear or a gastrocnemius muscle rupture.
Can you walk with a torn calf muscle?
Grade 1 calf pulls can recover in as little as three weeks with adequate treatment, Grade 2 muscle strains can mend in four to six weeks, and Grade 3 rips can heal in three to four months with correct treatment. What is the fastest way to heal a calf muscle? What is the best way to treat a calf muscle injury? Lay down and rest your injured leg.
Can physiotherapy help with how to stretch a pulled calf muscle?
Depending on how bad the torn calf muscle is, the recovery time could be between 3 weeks and 4 months. If you’re after the fastest way to heal a strained calf muscle, then physiotherapy may be …
What should I do if I have a bad calf muscle?
Even in the least severe situations, it may take up to three days for a torn calf muscle to begin to feel better. Full healing can take up to six weeks in the most severe instances that do not necessitate surgical intervention.
How long does it take for a calf muscle to heal?
Depending on how bad the torn calf muscle is, the recovery time could be between 3 weeks and 4 months. If you’re after the fastest way to heal a strained calf muscle, then physiotherapy may be able to help.
What are the potential complications of a torn calf muscle?
What Are the Potential Torn Calf Muscle Complications? If the right treatment is not adhered to for a torn calf muscle, then it is possible that torn calf muscle complications could arise. These could also occur in serious cases of a torn calf muscle, negatively affecting the recovery time for torn calf muscle injuries, in some cases.
What is the muscle in the calf called?
It can come as a surprise to many, but there are actually three different muscles within the calf muscle, known as; the soleus, plantaris, and gastrocnemius . An injury to any of these can be very painful, and to prevent further damage, needs to be taken seriously. In our guide, we cover the key facts, treatment, complications, and recovery time for torn calf muscle injuries.
What are the complications of a calf muscle tear?
The common complications, include: Torn calf muscle blood clot. A prolonged feeling of tightness. Potential for the tear to get worse or rupture. A permanent sensitivity. Slower healing and recovery time.
Can you walk with a calf tear?
An inability to walk does not always occur during a calf muscle tear, in many minor and moderate cases, walking is still possible. However, it is often not advised if it feels painful to do so. Damaging the area further could prevent a healthy recovery and can prolong the recovery time for torn calf muscle injuries.
How long does it take for a calf pull to heal?
If treated properly, it can take up to three weeks to heal Grade 1 calf pulls, four to six weeks to heal Grade 2 muscle strains, and three to four months to heal Grade 3 tears. Though this type of injury can heal on its own, it’s important to get a medical evaluation from a trained professional first before beginning treatment.
How to treat a calf injury?
For most cases, make sure you’re following the PRICE treatment. In addition, you can also treat your calf injury by: 1 Taking an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen 2 Wearing a brace or use crutches 3 Doing rehabilitating exercises, such as calf stretches and heel lifts
What are the symptoms of a torn calf muscle?
Notable symptoms for a strained or torn calf muscle are stiffness, swelling, pain, and bruising. However, depending on the severity of the injury, it can result in more specific symptoms based on grade: Grade 1 symptoms include a cramping sensation, tightness, and slight pain when the calf muscles stretch and contract.
What to do if your calf is hurting?
Taking an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Wearing a brace or use crutches. Doing rehabilitating exercises, such as calf stretches and heel lifts. If you think you or your child have a calf muscle injury, visit your nearest FastMed Urgent Care to have a medical professional evaluate its severity.
What are the three grades of calf muscle strain?
There are three grades of a calf muscle strain: Grade 1 Pull: Damage to a few muscle fibers. Grade 2 Strain: Damage to a larger number of muscle fibers. Grade 3 Tear: Complete tear in the muscle.
Why does my calf tear?
Calf Muscle Tear Explained. Muscle tears or strains are caused by undue pressure that usually occurs during physical activity. This damage results in a partial or full tear of the muscle fibers and attached tendons.
How to tell if you pulled a muscle?
Symptoms won’t be recognized until the individual stops the activity that caused the pull. Grade 2 symptoms include immediate pain (especially when stretched or contracted). Bruises may also appear where the muscle was strained, causing the area to be sore to the touch. Grade 3 symptoms include an immediate burning sensation and stabbing pain ...
Which muscle is the calf muscle?
The calf muscles consist of the Gastrocnemius, which is the big muscle at the back of the lower leg, and the Soleus muscle, which is a smaller muscle lower down in the leg and under the Gastrocnemius. Either of these two muscles can be strained (torn).
What is the time line for rehabilitation?
The ‘time line’ that is illustrated in the following rehabilitation program is typical after grade 2 and 3 injuries. After a grade 1 injury, rehabilitation can usually begin at phase three.
What causes calf muscle pain?
calf strain is caused by a tearing of part of the gastrocnemius or soleus muscle from the top of the Achilles tendon. A sudden sharp pain at the back of the leg when running, sprinting or lunging is how the injury presents and occurs. Usually there is tenderness on the calf muscle; especially on the inner side. You may think you've just been hit in the leg. Often, there is an audible "pop," and you may turn around to see what has just hit you. There is a sudden pain at the back of the leg, you may have difficulty in contracting the muscle or standing on tiptoe, and there may be pain, swelling or bruising in the calf muscle. This injury is common in running sports that require quick acceleration of changes in direction. Calf strain is also referred to as "Tennis Leg," because it is so common among tennis players. It usually occurs in people between the ages of 30 – 45.
How long does it take for a calf muscle to heal?
A grade 1 calf muscle injury will take between one and 3 weeks to heal. Grade 2 calf muscle injury. A partial tear of the calf muscle results in a moderate, or grade 2 calf muscle injury. Pain will be significant and will cause weakness in the lower leg muscle and make walking difficult.
How to heal a pulled calf muscle?
As the pulled calf muscle heals, a warm heating pad, exercises, and stretching can all help to speed up the healing process. Advertisement.
How to stop calf muscle pain?
Avoid any activities that could strain the muscle further and cause pain. Ice. Apply an ice pack to the calf muscle for up to 20 minutes every hour to reduce inflammation and help get rid of the pain. Compression. Gently apply an elastic bandage around your calf muscle to help prevent swelling in the calf muscle tear.
What is the soleus muscle?
The soleus is a much smaller calf muscle and is located under the gastrocnemius. Both of the muscles in the calves taper at the bottom and join to your Achilles tendon. 1. The function of your calf muscles is to provide mobility to your legs and enable you to freely walk, run, or jump.
What are the muscles in the back of the leg called?
These calf muscles are called the gastrocnemius and soleus. Dr. Carol DerSarkissian on WebMD says that the gastrocnemius is a diamond shape muscle that forms the bulge at the back of your leg.
Why does my calf hurt?
Calf muscle injuries can happen when straining tight leg muscles by accelerating fast or suddenly changing direction. Pulling or tearing a calf muscle can cause a sudden sharp pain in the back of your leg. Depending on the extent of injury to your calf muscle, you might have mild to intense pain.
Why do my calves pull?
Doctors from the National Health Service (NHS) say that calf strains are commonly caused by putting too much force on the calf muscles.
How long does it take for a calf muscle to recover?
Calf strains are most common in men between the ages of 30 and 50 years.
How to treat a torn calf muscle?
Once you know that, you'll know how to treat the injury successfully. For minor calf strains, the best approach is rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
How to tell between gastrocnemius and soleus strain?
With a more serious strain, it's important to distinguish which muscle is involved to the greater extent: the deeper soleus or the more superficial "heads" of the gastrocnemius. MRI or diagnostic ultrasound may be needed to best diagnose the location and degree of the injury. Grade II strains involve more extensive damage, up to 90% of the muscle fibers may be torn. These injuries present with more pain (described as sharp in nature), significant loss of muscle strength and range of motion. Swelling is more severe and bruising quickly develops because of the internal bleeding from the torn muscle fibers.
Why do calf stretches help?
Practice calf stretches. Mild muscle strains respond well to some light stretching because it relieves muscle tension and promotes blood flow. Following the inflammatory phase of a muscle strain injury, some scar tissue forms, which is not as flexible as muscle fiber.
What is the best treatment for calf muscle strain?
Make sure you get the doctor to clearly explain the diagnosis, especially the cause (if possible), and provide you with various treatment options for your condition. Rest and home care modalities (such as ice) are appropriate for mild-to-moderate calf muscle strains.
What is the best way to diagnose calf muscle pain?
X-rays, bone scans, MRI, CT scan and ultrasound are modalities that specialists may use to help diagnose your lower leg pain. Calf muscle injuries are relatively common among those who play tennis, basketball, football, soccer and volleyball, as well as those who run track and field.
How to know if calf strain is serious?
1. Identify the seriousness of the injury. Most calf strains are minor injuries and self-heal within a week -- the degree of pain, disability and bruising are good indicators of seriousness. Grade I muscle strains involve micro-tears of up to 10% of the muscle fibers.
How to heal a strained calf muscle?
Reducing pain and symptoms may be achieved by off loading the strained calf musculature through rest, taping techniques, and appropriate soft tissue massage techniques. While somewhat lacking scientific evidence for soft tissue recovery modalities such as dry needling or western acupuncture can be popular amongst runners and may also be useful.
How long does it take for calf pain to start after running?
Marathoners may often have onset of calf pain within the first 24hours after their long run or even after a race. A runner that cannot continue to run and pulls up limping at the time of injury is likely to have incurred a greater grade injury than the runner who feels a ‘pull’ and is able to run on.
What are the muscles in the back of the leg?
The muscles at the back of the leg are comprised of a superficial and a deep group of muscles. The superficial group is comprised of: the soleus and gastrocnemius (pictured above) and also the lesser referenced and lesser sized plantaris muscle. The deep group of calf musculature is comprised of: tibialis posterior.
What muscle is the calf muscle?
Calf muscle anatomy. A calf muscle strain can occur to either of the two primary ‘calf muscles’; the soleus or the gastrocnemius (see anatomy images below): (i) soleus muscle. (ii) Gastrocnemius (medial and lateral heads) The muscles at the back of the leg are comprised of a superficial and a deep group of muscles.
Why does my calf hurt when I run?
The runner will typically report an acute onset of pain in the region of the calf brought on by activity, often times jumping or accelerating when running. For runners the injury more frequently arises during faster interval training, racing, or high-speed tempo runs.
What is calf muscle strain?
Written by Brad Beer. ‘Calf muscle strains’ are a common running injury. They can be debilitating, painful, and require reduced or complete cessation from running. Short and longer lasting episodes of pain can stem from injury to the calf musculature.
Which muscle fiber is considered vestigial?
The plantaris is generally considered a vestigial muscle and provides a weak contribution to knee and ankle flexion when it is functional (2). Although the gastrocnemius has a mix of fibers, more are fast twitch (type 2) muscle fibers allowing for explosive/powerful contractions.
How long does it take to recover from a calf tear?
Depending on the severity, complete recovery from a calf muscle tear can take anywhere from a few days to several months.
Why is it important to have a calf muscle?
Image Credit: Martinan/iStock/Getty Images. The calf muscles play an important role in sports and fitness, enabling you to propel yourself forward and upward. A tear in the calf muscle, also called a strain or rupture, can be painful and debilitating.
How to tell if you have a calf injury?
A strain can range from a small partial tear with minimal pain and minimal loss of function to a complete rupture requiring surgical reconstruction. Symptoms are characterized by swelling or bruising at the site of the injury, and tenderness to the touch. If the injury is to the soleus, you might notice pain when pointing your toes in a bent-knee position. The severity of your injury will determine how soon you can resume exercise.
What is the function of the calf muscles?
The primary function of both muscles is to point the foot away from the body, an action called plantar flexion. Your calf muscles work together to produce huge amounts of force during rebounding activities, sending you airborne. Advertisement.
What is a grade one calf injury?
A grade-one strain is a minor tear with twinges of pain and little loss of function. An athlete with a grade-one strain might opt to ignore the pain and return to play immediately.
