A calf strain compares to an Achilles Tendon tear but a torn calf muscle is situated in the upper leg. Indications of a rupture is very audible because of a pop is then inflammation follows even bruising ensues, thereby be very conscious to alleviate weight from the injury to avoid any burdensome pain for just standing on your toes. Immediately following the injury the general pulled calf muscle treatment is a good-ole ice-pack with compression to reduce swelling and the pain.
A prudent backup to an ice-pack is moist heat application 48 hours after the injury that aids the reduction of swelling and bruising. But don’t forget about the vital rest and elevation you need to compliment temperature therapy.
The pain is a good indicator how to rate the severity of your pulled calf muscle yet the proceeding is helpful:
What are symptoms of a Calf Pull?
- GRADE ONE CALF STRAIN: Slight soreness occasionally minimal disability happens
- GRADE TWO CALF STRAIN: Moderate irritation while walking, limitation to perform activities like running, jumping; swelling plus bruising may happen
- GRADE THREE CALF STRAIN: Severe injury totally impeding activity, typically a patient complains about muscle spasms, and significant bruising and swelling entails
Further Suggestions for Calf Repair
Some athletes believe tapping the calf reduces pain and helps avoid perpetual injury. Applying precut tape like Scrip Spidertech Calf Tape really is handy. After intense pain lessens start stretching the muscle slowly with moderate range of motion. One range of motion exercise is gently pulling your toes and foot up with straightened legs to help calf muscle flexibility, then hold for 10 seconds and repeat the exercise five to 10 times. A popular progressive calf exercise is:
- standing about an arm’s-length from the wall
- lean forward, place both hands on the wall shoulder width apart
- extend one foot behind you with the heel on the ground and one foot closer to the wall
- lean your hips to the wall to feel a stretch in the calf of the extended leg
- hold about 30 seconds then change sides
- for a deeper stretch, move your foot farther back
Progressive stretching is similar to the Achilles tendon heel stretch, but straight knees focuses the stretch on the calf than the Achilles.
The rehabilitation advice that is given is not for chronic or acute injuries so consider that your doctor must approve returning to exercises. Also that you are pain free, you have at least 90 percent calf muscle flexibility, and there is no pain when jogging or jumping.
