These muscles are in two parts and are located closer to the surface of the skin , they are known as medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius.
Soleus muscles
This muscle is much deeper in the leg
Together both these muscles form the Achilles tendon.
Plantaris muscle
This is a small muscle of the calf muscle that run along with other calf muscles and Achilles tendon in the back of the leg and sits roughly in the centre of the calf, between the two heads of the gastrocnemius.
If one experience a muscle sprain or rupture of any of the above muscles one may experience the symptoms below.
A typical grade I calf strain will heal in seven to 10 days.
A grade II injury will heal in about four to six weeks.
A grade III calf strain may take about three months.
Plantaris muscle tears can be differentiated from an Achilles tendon tear in that the foot can be pointed downward following the plantaris rupture. With an Achilles tear, it cannot.
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Cause
Playing sports where one lunges forward i.e. tennis , soccer
Playing sports where one sprints off , push off the ground or are preparing to jump.
Playing sports or doing activities where one changes directions suddenly.
Deep soreness or tightness in the calf that can be reproduced when bending the knee and pulling your toes back toward your shin (dorsi-flexing the ankle) at the same time (Soleus Muscle Strain)?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:
Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (Madelung deformity is characterized by the bowing and shortening of the bones in the forearms (the radius and the ulna) and the dislocation of the ulna, resulting in the abnormal deviation or misalignment of the wrist)
Claudication (when arteries in your legs are blocked)
Calf Muscle Cramp- sudden intense pain and stiffness, feels like a ‘tight knot’ and may persist for a few days.
Baker’s Cyst – a collection of knee-joint fluid that pools in the back of the knee, most commonly as a result of arthritis.If a Baker’s cyst ruptures, the fluid may leak down into the calf region causing an aching pain in the calf, along with swelling.
Nerve Entrapment –Pressure on nerves can cause symptoms like numbness, tingling, and/or sharp pain.The two nerve entrapments that most commonly cause calf pain are sural nerve and peroneal nerve entrapment. Rarely, a severe peroneal nerve entrapment can lead to muscle weakness and foot drop.
Popliteal Tendonitis- The popliteal tendon wraps around the knee joint, connecting the thighbone to the popliteal muscle—a triangular-shaped muscle that works with the tendon to control flexion and rotation of the knee. The pain of popliteal tendonitis is felt above the calf, in the back and side of the knee, and worsens when walking or running downhill.7 In addition to pain, if the injury to the popliteal tendon is acute, bleeding into the knee joint may occur. Rarely, the popliteal tendon tears, but this may occur with trauma, such as with a direct blow to the inside of the knee.
Popliteal Artery Entrapment- Popliteal artery entrapment—a rare condition seen mostly in young male athletes—is believed to stem from a developmental defect in which a person’s gastrocnemius muscle compresses the popliteal artery (located in the knee and back of the legs). The symptoms of popliteal artery entrapment can include a deep pain in the calf that occurs after a vigorous lower leg workout, such as cycling or running.
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Rest – stop the exercise or activities that caused the injury until you feel better
Ice – put an ice pack (you could use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a teatowel) on the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
Compress – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it
Elevate – if possible, keep the injured area raised on a pillow when sitting or lying down
To help prevent swelling during the first 2 to 3 days, try to avoid:
heat, such as hot baths and heat packs
alcohol
massages
When you can move the injured area without pain stopping you, try to keep moving it so the tendon doesn’t become stiff.
Do
warm up before exercising and stretch afterwards
wear suitable shoes for exercise
take regular breaks from repetitive exercises
Don’t
over-exercise tired muscles
start a new sport without some training or practice
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Calf Strain in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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