Gastrocnemius Calf Injury and Strain | Expert Explains Mechanism Of Injury and Rehab Plan

In this tutorial, we guide you through the mechanism of gastrocnemius strains using evidence based research, explore common symptoms and signs and discuss gastrocnemius strain rehab in terms of early, middle and late stages, showing exercise plans and techniques. One not to be missed!
References:
*Michael D Noseworthy 1, Daniel P Bulte, Jeff Alfonsi (2003) Bold magnetic resonance imaging of skeletal muscle
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14735...
*David Hsu; Ke-Vin Chang (2021) Gastrocnemius Strain
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB...
*Cibulka et al (2017)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
*Virginia Nsitem (2013)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
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[@desertbluesplaylist7550]

This is an outstandingly thorough and good - and clear - explanation. Really helpful! Thank you

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Very kind! Thank you!

[@silaumuatuufuli9124]

What an amazing informative explanation for the gastrocnemius and torn muscles. I'm one of those that just slowly recovering this, going through physical therapy right now. Thank you so much.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much for your kind words! So glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@Nat-mk7gb]

Can I just say that you are great at delivering information. Really good presentation. Thank you

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much for your kind words Nat! Very kind feedback!

[@itzhakbentov6572]

@@ClinicalPhysiothank you so very much. Pickleball seems to be a major source of calf injuries, when older athletes charge a soft volley (dink)

[@christopherbarrett5627]

This is fantastic information. Thanks, Khalid.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏼

[@drewztac8570]

I have also calf injury 2 weeks ago, it’s still hurting me if I step in a wrong phase, I walk a lot in my work every day. I will try this exercise hope it work, thanks

[@russellgerriewretham]

Thank you Khalid, clear concise and no BS, just what I needed as I have just hobbled back from a sprint training session, having been either jogging or sprinting most of my adult life 40+ years and ‘never’ having experienced this injury before, ever! Will take all your advise on, thank you very much. 🙏🏻

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome! Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏🏼 wishing you all the best with it!

[@AbdulkadirMohamedAli]

Very helpful, Thank you Khalid.

[@seamus7054]

Thank you very much for this brilliant advice.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for your kind words!

[@shahidiqbal1418]

I m so impressed this video having a great information and it is incredible

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much! Hope our other videos also help you!

[@bigpete4864]

Fantastic presentation!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@uptone12111]

Lots of great well explained information here.Thank you so much!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome!!

[@MrProsat]

Great video with exercises to use.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏼

[@svitlanagraves2739]

So helpful! Thank you so much! I had no idea what has been causing my discomfort after the cycling class - it all makes sense now! Very excited about the exercises.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome! Wishing you all the best!

[@dessiecoder2116]

One would think spin would build that muscle. Probably why they hurt. Stretch after

[@dennisd5395]

Wow. Your incredible. I like your passion for helping people. I'm 62, not a long distance walker and decided to walk 2 km up hill in a park. Realized I was in trouble doing 2 km back. Had left calf burn for 4 days. On 5th day I got up from a chair and left upper side of calf felt like, in your words, a gunshot. Hours later I could walk straight but used a cane. Next day I walked around, went to doc who did a bunch of knee leg movements which didn't reproduce itand no real pain. until I was home my runner was planted in the rug and I twisted. Pain came back but not gunshot pain. I'm walking slow with little pain but know now if I twist with resistance it's back. I'm positive you nailed it in this video. Appreciate you.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Very kind words Dennis thank you - wishing you all the best in your recovery!

[@mohitkravi]

Hey, when did you recovered? I've acute pain... But I'm scared of major injury.. I just want to get back to run asap... What's your advice?

[@rc51bigdaddy]

Great advice!!! Thank you!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much 🙏🏼

[@shafievahidi7125]

Wow, I really adore your explanation..

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much 🙏🏼

[@laurieannJake]

That’s great I just had a recent patient with this very injury

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you Laurieann hope video was helpful!

[@TheJadu420]

Thx Khalid, This is the best video I came across on calf injury. I’m recovering from” Focal muscle bundle tear on the medial side in the distal M. Gastrognemius medial”. It’s been almost 2 months (9th January), I don’t find pain in my calf now but there is stifness, my Achilles Tendon pain while walking. When I work seating in chair, my calf get the swelling. Can you help me connecting over video call?thx a lot 🙏🙏

[@gavinashun]

Great video

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!

[@shimfrin7094]

This is actually really helpful thank you very much but I have one question I’ve been stretching it for a week and it doesn’t feel any better what stretch would be the best to do?

[@timlane5443]

Very helpful.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@alessandrosarcia]

Thank you very professional, precise, and effective. I repeatedly get injured (left then right … vice versa…)

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you for your kind words my friend, wishing you all the best

[@CamBaldeon]

Yep I definitely messed leg, damn. Thanks for the info.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@mangomushroom]

Excellent! I ruptured the upper gastro but still have good dorsiflexion strength. What I can’t do is flatten out my foot on the ground. A heel wedge helps immensely. How long can i expect this soreness? Basically I can walk fine on my tip toes but have trouble getting my heel on the ground.

[@panagiotiskapodistrias9817]

Really nice, thank you! :)

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@hmdfit]

Again, a great video! A question isn't the soleus muscle bigger than the gastroc?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi! It depends how you define bigger, but ultimately the gastrocnemius is longer in size and generally bigger in bulk

[@rogotad]

Great video, I am going through my third calf injury in two years, need to strengthen them

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Wishing you all the best!

[@mrtuna76]

Such a clear informative video, by far the most sensible approach I have found. I have Gastrocnemius Medial Head injury and I’m on day 4 so really nervous to start really stretching the muscle. I will use the steps and methods of recovery advised and hopefully I will be walking normally again soon. Thank you

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you!

[@26realmc]

@@ClinicalPhysio great video! I have a grade 2 tear. At what day post injury should I start cross fibre friction massage? Cheers

[@ClinicalPhysio]

@@26realmc Hi! My question would be… “do you need to do cross fibre friction massage?”

[@26realmc]

@@ClinicalPhysio as you would know well, an excessive laying down of collagen post injury, can result in an increase of scar tissue size over time and possibly lead to poor muscle function, tightness and a greater propensity to tear again. Cross fibre massage has been acknowledged universally for decades as an effective approach in breaking down and realigning collagen fibres. There is an exhaustive amount of research backing this up. I’d be interested in the medical reasoning behind your comment.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

@@26realmc Sounds like this will be my next research review!! Any particular articles or systematic from recent times you would suggest that I use that advocates it?

[@willmurphy6663]

Thanks brilliant video. I've had consistent problems with calfs. Very very minor fibres tearing, I've put in massage and rolling.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you! Hope you are seeing some progress!

[@RobGrieve-ez1be]

Great Video! I had a previous Pes Anserine Bursitis, which is basically sorted now. I can run on the flat no problem, but only get pain on the medial/posterior aspect of my knee when running downhill, quickly relieved by flexing my knee, then fine to continue my run on the flat. Could this be a proximal medial gastrocnemius tendinopathy, aggravated by eccentric control by gastrocs when running downhill? Very frustrating as a problem for a year now. Any diagnosis/management ideas would be appreciated.

[@ameurmustapha6942]

thank you so much for fruitful content, please if any information of healing the hip articulation shift avoinding surgeryn thank you

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@alphonsevallery]

how long before i can run again 😢

[@bayozan1]

Thanks very much for the video. My question is, I finished my third week after the injury, I still have some pain in walking and some moves, should I wait to have zero pain to start the exercises?

[@katcarleo7815]

I just retore my calf 3 1/2 weeks after my initial injury and over a week of no pain. I was performing a single leg hop, and I felt my calf pop again on the 11th hop without any warning (I had not been in pain doing any of the explosive movements before). Now I'm back to square one. Should you wait 2-3 weeks of no pain with a Grade 2 tear? Thank you!

[@GoodByeSkyHarborLive]

So I have had calve pain doing single leg raises going down all the way on a ledge. Pain has gotten better with rest but I have subtle shaking on the eccentric doing the "hands on calves raises". I still have pain on palpation on calf muscle belly few days after. No bruising. What would you grade the strain/injury?

[@yazs.m9838]

Hi thanks for this, I have a question tho, so when I’m doing leg raises, it hurts, shall I carry on or not

[@user-td3sl7wj9v]

Hi Doc, is PRP can cure muscle tear? What treatment would you recommend for muscle tear doc? Thank you

[@evl457]

I love these very low level isometrics!!! Thanks! Can't do standing calf raises yet. Injured 3 WK's ago

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much and wishing you all the best, no problem at all if you need more time for calf raises!

[@nadeemafzal8984]

Found ur excellent video after damaging medial head of gastrocnemius- that area is literally tender secondary to explosive running which didn’t work for me 😀 Appreciate the explanation Any advice for acute situations- damaged 3 hours ago Many thanks 🙏🏽

[@D-D0G]

Don't stretch straight away if you've injured it badly as you will pull the fibres further apart when they're trying to heal.

[@claudejennings3076]

Thank you

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome!

[@MoviesSam]

Thank you. This is a very helpful video. I'm wondering though how quickly should I start the rehab. I know it depends, but some general guidance would be helpful.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi Sam! As soon as you feel it is “tolerable”. This might mean for example that you feel you can do some isometrics and whilst it feels a bit achey you don’t feel like you have really flared it up! Hope that gives you some guidance e.g. it only creates 2-3/10 pain levels

[@liamliosmyth]

Very informative, trying to currently figure out if my inner Achilles pain is Gastroc or Plantaris related

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much! Wish you all the best!

[@damez90]

can you do this exercise a day after the injury? or should i wait more.

[@humbertocantu1986]

How long did it take before you can just walk on it again? After you re-injured it?

[@GGIC.]

Could this injury also make the back of my knee hurt? Straightening the leg hurts

[@kexandramae3326]

How long should it be rested from the tear

[@DaniellMilton]

Hi Khalid, I strained my calf 2.5 months ago, I initially only rested for 1 week before returning to soccer & immediately re-straining the calf as it was not fully recovered. This second strain/tear felt more significant than the first one & I could barely walk/weight bare in the days after. I’m now at a place where I can perform single leg calf raises for 30 reps and single leg hops for 25 reps, however the injured calf doesn’t feel the same as the non-injured one & has a dull ache after performing the hops (about 3/10 pain wise) which lingers for a day or two. The injured calf also feels like it has a much lower work capacity & fatigues quicker now when walking. Should I persist with these exercises and progress to running soon, or dial it back a bit until there is minimal pain? Sorry for the long message, many thanks :-)

[@Vitorgava]

You explain it really, really well, thank you for this video. I pulled my calf this Saturday when doing a star save in a 1v1 scenario(I’m a goalkeeper) I overstretched my left calf and felt the sharp pain then when I tried getting up on my feet, I felt numbness on the area down to my foot, had to carry on playing for another 20mins The next day it got more stiff and I couldn’t stand on my foot so I had to tip toe the left foot, I think it’s not that severe as it feels like it’s getting better and I have another game on Saturday, so I hope to be fully recovered. Thank you for the video!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome! And more than anything wishing you a speedy recovery from your injury

[@gmontenegro9711]

Is there any possible way that the medial gastrocnemius head can slide UNDER the soleus? After doing heavy sets of seated calf raises, I noticed hours later that the medial head looked as if it was torn and the soleus was larger than usual and has been for the last 3-4 months. I had no bruising and could walk just fine even now without any pain/discomfort. It’s almost as if the medial head shifted under the soleus and medial head looks as if it has receded toward the back of the knee, the lateral head looks perfectly fine.

[@rccarsandmusic2641]

Excellent I injured my calf you helped thank you

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome!

[@rccarsandmusic2641]

@@ClinicalPhysio took 1 month to heal and took aspirin to prevent blood clots one week

[@tobiasisback4605]

Could this be confused with a thrombus? My GP has diagnosed thrombophlebitis in my calf just below the knee, but it's lasted 2+ months now and gets worse with cycling or walking. I can’t run on it. It aches a lot rather than a very sharp pain. It's swollen too.

[@WarPartyFitness]

Quick question. I have this pain behind the right side of my knee when flexing. Feels funny like my brain is going *bloop* it’s not a terrible pain and kind of weird. Been this way for a few years now. It gets better and sometimes it flares up and seems to get worse. I was jogging to the gym and tripped on a 1” chunk of lifted concrete. I was falling , well I raised my right leg and caught myself stumbled and fell to the side wall. That’s around the time I noticed my knee area wasn’t feeling normal during leg exercises. Could this be a calf muscle issue and not a knee ligament issue. I had my knee checked and the PT twisted it and flexed it around and said it seemed to be normal and I had no reaction to any of the stress I placed on my knee.

[@scottberry465]

Great video and explanation! However, I just had a partial tear in my calf and I am having a hard time understanding how the treatment is to do resistance training! Doesn't it need to heal or 're-attach first? This seems counterintuitive.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi Scott! A tear in the tendon or in the muscle? Naturally this is where it would be wrong of me to give individual advice over the internet if I don’t know your full case and history, but generally speaking unless we are talking about a TENDON tear, calf tears do not involve detachment of something that needs reattaching. Therefore, it’s more about allowing for adequate rest during the inflammatory stage as mentioned, and then letting the muscle do what it does best!

[@detroitlionsfan21]

I just had a massive Charlie horse while playing spots yesterday and this morning my leg is slightly bruised, 4-5inch line of pain between the Gastrocnemius and soleus, and I can’t fully flex the muscle. Didn’t feel the pop or tear like I did when I tore my hamstring but there was the cramping super bad.

[@frankyjoseph1]

halo khalid. last week i was hit by a motorbike when i was croosing road. it hit my medial head of my gastrocnemius. is there any treatment you can share? thanks bro 🙏

[@1randumbguy]

My pain occurred when either hiking after several miles, or when on an indoor air bike. In both scenarios it's seems like it's happening when my knee is bent over and over. The pain is on the upper /outside calf, where the calf meets the knee. Any ideas? Is this the same situation as in your vid?

[@customerfaithful]

excellent clarity - thx so much. Early stages for me, but looking forward to progressing. Do you feel that physio massage can support stretching rehab?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi! Thank you so much for your kind words… Personal experience, massage from a spouse or family member is just as useful as paying for someone weekly to do it for you… not an essential component of rehab, but if feels good then no problem!

[@tzamar977]

Hi, is it ok to ride bike as cardio for this injury? Or is swimming as cardio?

[@LeeHusk19]

Needed this to remind me to be sensible! Had a grade one tear which I’ve been working on with stretches and single leg calf raises. It was feeling good so I risked a game of football (no sprints) all fine… Then decided to stay for a second hour, an opportunity to sprint opened up, I forgot I shouldn’t/didn’t consider my fatigue and rip! Grade 2/3 strain. Learn from my mistake folks and don’t play until you can complete explosive actions regularly in a controlled setting! One more week off is much better than making it worse and needing 3-5 weeks again!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 wish you all the best

[@GoodByeSkyHarborLive]

Did you have an MRI that diagnosed the grade 2 tear? What were your symptoms? Did you have some shaking on the affected calve during the descent of a calve raise a few days after injury? When did you begin single calf raises and stretches?

[@LeeHusk19]

@@GoodByeSkyHarborLive I didn’t have a scan, I didn’t have time to wait in A&E and I was quite sure what it was. I couldn’t put any weight on the plantarflexed foot for probably 5 or 6 days. There wasn’t enough strength in the muscle. During this time I just tried to avoid more injury but keep the muscle moving (non-weigh bearing). Then I started double leg calf raises and stretched, progressing to yoga and resistance training for the legs. Then week 2 the same progressing to slow single leg calf raises. Week 3 adding some light skipping and 1-2 km jogs. Week 4 adding 3-4 km runs (with changes of direction) and jumping. Week 5 - 5km runs, weighted calf raises and some multidirection hops/jumps. Next week will be week 6, I will try to add 75% effort sprints and some agility along with the weights. If I survive ill try 100% sprints and cuts the week after then go back to playing. I still have a strange sensation from time to time so I’m not confident to progress to full effort sprints/agility etc.

[@humbertocantu1986]

How long before you could walk again after you re-injured it?

[@LeeHusk19]

@@humbertocantu1986 1-2 weeks

[@stanleyjackson12]

Thanks for sharing that helpful information. How do treat the soreness until you able to do exercises

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much! Painkillers, ice, gentle self massage if need be but also gentle isometrics as early if possible if can be managed within pain levels

[@stanleyjackson12]

Thanks I will give it a try.

[@stanleyjackson12]

At times the pain is brutal.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

@@stanleyjackson12 wishing you all the best with it

[@janana6138]

Hi there, great video, was just wondering if it was a proper injury would it start hurting immediately or would it develop over a few day

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi! A genuine calf strain is likely to have a sudden onset of pain with clear mechanism of when it was injured

[@janana6138]

@@ClinicalPhysio ah right, cos I did some calve raises at the gym and I think overloaded it cos I want really walk properly at the moment, it was over the course of a few days

[@russellgoff6524]

Thank you for the instructional video. I walk/run for cardio. Since I can't do that for the next 5 weeks, what is a good substitute? Can I ride stationary bike?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

If a stationary bike is comfortable for you it is an option but you may want to consider something like arm-cycle in first stages

[@ThinkBritishEnglish]

I jog, stair run, train with weights and I got injured doing none of them. Just crossing the road and the pain came like a shot in the leg. I had to drag my leg behind me to walk home. it happened 5 days ago and I can't flex the calf-and experience intense pain if try to ease up with my weight. Can't do one. There was minimal bruising. Swelling on the day but no real heat. The initial pain was at the back of knee and the whole belly of the medial side. But the pain now is at the top of the medial head near the knee. The worrying thing is that I can't contract the muscle at all. ;( anyway I subbed you because that was a great vid. ;)

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much for your kind words and so sorry to hear of your injury … of course advice would always be to see if you can get it checked out

[@ThinkBritishEnglish]

@@ClinicalPhysio Hiya...well I went and had MRI. It showed Medial meniscus tear and quadriceps femoris tendon injury...I go back in a few weeks for a followup. After 10 days the blood had drained down from the injury to the foot. I'm still confused as to why the injury has taken away my ability to contract the medial calf muscle. That's the most worrying thing because it's affecting my walking. Anyway I'll stay positive as always. ;)

[@bmclaughlin01]

Thanks for your advice. My lower calf popped yesterday. I felt like I was shot on the back of my leg. I can’t put any weight on it so now in bed resting with my leg up, getting to the toilet is agony. Hopefully in the next 24 hrs I can walk on it.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Wishing you all the best Billy!

[@nethravathi9497]

Sir it's been 2 years since I became an acedent and I got femur fracture and small nerves are rubbed now the nerve is joined but the foot drop is again you didn't tell me what is the problem plz tell me 🙏

[@andreeaseni2986]

Thank you very much for your videos, make everything easier to understand. 🤍

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You are welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@Astricklin14]

I noticed that stretching routines arent mentioned as part of your rehab; are they unimportant? Truly curious--i know nothing and am looking to fix my calf :)

[@soccermania4649]

I have a MCL sprain in my right knee. It's been 1.5 months. I do rehab excersises daily 30 minutes and icing. Now I can normally walk, cycling etc. But it little bit hurts after waking up, to sprint, to stand up after long sitting. Can anyone please grade my MCL sprain and when it will be fully recovered through daily rehabilitation? I'll be really grateful.🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@bahadorkhodadadi2512]

Great video! I have a question. I tore the medial head of my calf, I wasn’t able to seek medical help as the A&E was full and it was during COVID. It has now been around 1 year since the tear (not sure what grade it was) and I have noticed that there is a gap in the medial calf. Instead of rounding out at the bottom portion towards my heel, it now ends abruptly. I guess I wanted to know how bad it means that tear was, my leg was bruised from my heel to my knee, back and partially front also. And is it possible to extend the muscle to its original length? If so, how? Thank you! And I hope to hear from you.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

I would absolutely suggest you see someone face to face for this my friend so that you can have someone take a proper look at it!

[@bahadorkhodadadi2512]

@@ClinicalPhysio I will do! Thank you

[@Karim-qo5dd]

i think i either tore or strained that muscle years back while playing soccer and it shows when i do quad extensions which essentially is the shooting motion, left it untreated and now its just bothering me because ive got reduced range of motion when bending my knee and pain too, this video defo cleared up some of the assumptions i had

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Wish you all the best!

[@danevans2397]

Born bilateral club footed. Two reconstruction surgeries on each foot and ankle as an infant. Multiple ankle sprains from rolling both by suppination and pronation. In teens had a few partial Achilles tendon tears. Complete ruptures of left Achilles at 18yo and right Achilles 3 years later. More partial tears throughout adulthood. Finally gave up sports and running at 47yo. I'm 53yo now and depressed at how short of breath I get from calf fatigue. But I dare not risk another Achilles tendon injury. It's disabling.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Wishing you all the very best Dan - hope you can get help from physiotherapy if you need it 🙏🏼

[@SoySlayer-im7fd]

Get a bike

[@shaunramsey1377]

Great information ,I wish someone would have explained to me don’t stretch or use the massage gun Until it’s healed I was stretching and massage gun two days after the injury then I screwed it up really bad

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hope you are doing ok now 🙏🏼

[@humbertocantu1986]

That’s what I did. How long after you made it worse did it start to get better?

[@thepsychologist8159]

Yep, this explains the injury I've just sustained. An isolated sharp pain behind the knee on the inner side. I'm a distance runner and after building up to 18km over a few months, I've started to introduce strides into my training (although this wasn't a sudden introduction as I'd been doing a few shorter strides). So, I introduced longer strides at a higher speed at the end of an easy run and within a week I've developed this pain/strain. Really annoying as it's never happened before. I don't know whether to stop training immediately or if this can be managed while I continue to train. Naturally, the last thing I want is develop a more serious injury which will put me out for a long time.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

🙏🏼🙏🏼 wishing you all the best with your running!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

🙏🏼🙏🏼 wishing you all the best with your running!

[@thepsychologist8159]

@@ClinicalPhysio Thanks. I'm not sure exactly what I've done. Perhaps I've strainted the popliteus or something else in this area. I've given it a good massage which has helped. I'll try it out tomorrow and see how I go.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

@@thepsychologist8159 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@mohitkravi]

Hey, I hope you're doing fine and recovered well.. I am a runner too.. And have the same pain as the video and you described? I gave 2 days rest.. Feeling little bit better.. Pain is like 3/10.. Should I continue running or should I stop.. My pain is not that much... It's just a little sharp pain.. I am scared of another injury as I've just recovered from acl sprain and meniscus tear..

[@RikNightwing]

I do not feel any pain doing the plantar flexion/calf raises even with weighths+body weight. But i feel a sharp pain when i bend my knee behind my back, and do plantar flexion. This pain has stayed over a month. Any help? Trying to schedule a doctor office visit😢

[@shirohige291]

Was it a tear?

[@ceheck]

Soccer brought me here

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Wishing you all the best!

[@klondike091586]

Can a calf tear or just muscle tear cause fever?

[@V.E.D.A.N.G]

I've some pain on random basis on the plantaris muscle a little hump is developed it' pain when I press it on y right leg

[@ClinicalPhysio]

I would certainly suggest reviewing with a healthcare professional in your local area if you are concerned

[@pronatewithnate]

Any advice for movements for medial head pain behind the knee? Injury is wear and tear from sprinting season after not running much the year before (masters 40+). I’m on week 4 of no running and doing rehab. Advanced single leg Calf raises are very easy. However, if I do explosive/plyo will have pain or irritation the following day. Holding a single leg Isometric bridge at nearly end range full extension (actively pushing down) also exhibits minor irritation/pain. I can do single leg hamstring sliders as well. Very difficult to target the medial head, considering simply pausing all rehab for a few weeks and just totally resting…

[@ClinicalPhysio]

If I was to simply answer your question of “how do I bias the medial head… you can externally rotate your feet when you do calf raise and make sure that you are pushing 90% through your big toe. This will bias Tibialis posterior and flexor hallucis Longus but also medial head of gastroc a little more than lateral head

[@pronatewithnate]

@@ClinicalPhysio thanks! I can do 30 reps full ROM with that setup, fatiguing in the belly of the gastroc around 25. Feels about the same as my other leg. No pain upper complex behind knee

[@ClinicalPhysio]

@@pronatewithnate 🙏🏼

[@carloneal]

I’m a week in to my injury .. is a walking boot necessary ?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

No not necessarily but best medical advice is from someone who can assess you properly as will depend from one injury to another. If you have a small calf tear not necessarily, but if you have an Achilles rupture then very important!

[@carloneal]

@@ClinicalPhysio ok… i went to the dr she said i had a Gastroc tear … i can walk without the boot .i just assumed the boot just helps me not aggravate it until it heals …. What’s the normal recovery time ?

[@LoyaFrostwind]

I just cramped and pulled my calf muscle this afternoon doing taekwondo. I was a sudden snapping sensation. I hope it’s not seriously torn. It’s fairly tender and painful. I’ve rested and elevated it this evening, and am now icing it as well. It’s swollen. Lesson to self: don’t do martial arts without proper stretching and warmup beforehand.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Wishing you all the best with it!

[@LoyaFrostwind]

@@ClinicalPhysio thanks! The nurse gave me a boot last weekend, and I'm scheduled for physical therapy next week.

[@rachelleabante5308]

Definitely got pain on my calf when doing these exercises. Can you give an advice on the extent of pain, like up to what extent that it is an "safe kind of pain" vs "stop doing it kind of pain.". I just wanted to make sure I'm not making the calf condition worse. Thank you!!

[@BB-mr3vy]

this guy says dont try exercises until you can walk pain free: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX2mnKN7jdZ6Y8k. How is yours healing? mine's still in the pain-while-walking phase

[@SneakySonn]

@@BB-mr3vyhow are you doing now and how long for full recovery??

[@BB-mr3vy]

@@SneakySonn brooo i am still nowhere near healed. i think its only a type 1 strain, but there must be something wrong w my body bc what feel like minor strains take a year to heal.

[@bubbarainwater]

So what would you say about a calf "strain" that heals in 24-48 hours??? I am 54-year old male who has walked 15-20 miles per week (4.0-4.5 mph) for over 20 years. Former soccer and football kicker, so calves are pretty strong. When I run, I "strain" my calf before I hit the one mile mark. Cannot run through it because of pain, but am back to walking (scared to run) within 48 hours with NO pain. Could this be a soleus? Achilles? HELP!!!

[@randomonlineactivity]

Hey, man, could be a very bad cramp if it's healing that fast. Ever heard of a Charlie horse?

[@BurtTurbo]

I’d say it wasn’t a strain.

[@NA-eb9xd]

Can stretching cause this? I'm identifying my knee pain. I was once in a karate class where I stretched my leg more than I could and that resulted in pain for 2 months.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hope you are making progress now!

[@rupenupe1]

How soon to start rehabing after injury?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

I would normally be working with my patient to determine when they feel ready e.g. have they been using ice/painkillers/rest and how has it been? How much can they weight bear? If so - can they start with some low level isometrics and see where it takes them

[@kp2441]

What does it mean when you can't contract /flex your medial calf properly? One calf is also smaller then other calf after injury. I feel like it's going to cramp when walking. Could it be nerve damage? Have some tingling and numbness in toes too.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

I would absolutely advise you to see a Doctor or Physiotherapist so you can be properly assessed! 🙏🏼

[@kp2441]

@@ClinicalPhysio I will do, thank you for your reply 👍

[@ThinkBritishEnglish]

hi, just saw this. I have the same problem after injury. I have a medial meniscus tear and a quadriceps femoris tendon injury. I can't contract calf at all. On day 23 now. had MRI with a followup soon.. Did you see a doctor for explanation. I'd be interested to know.

[@kp2441]

@@ThinkBritishEnglish sorry for late reply. I did see a doctor, she wasn't too concerned about it as I could still move my foot and walk. Recommend me to some Physio. Sorry couldn't be of more help. I have another injury now that has taken priority 😞

[@ThinkBritishEnglish]

@@kp2441 no problem. Glad you’re on the mend ;) I don’t think people realize how painful it is until they get it lol thanks for the reply ;)

[@blakerh]

I played pickelball for six hours over a seven day period of time. I took a normal step and felt a tremendous sharp pain in my calf. Went to the Dr the next day and he said it is a grade 2 tear. I am using a walking boot for at least two weeks. Such a bummer. But thankful that my Achilles didnt tear.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Definitely glad to hear Achilles is ok Wish you all the best!

[@klaforever6933]

I just had the same thing occur 3 days ago playing pickleball as well. Any advice on the healing process and how long before you were able to play again? I hope you are doing well now!

[@jeremyking3986]

I was walking on a treadmill and Decided to do a sprint, after 30 seconds of sprinting my left calf muscle was on fire. 3 days later I still can’t walk on it, I’m hoping it gets better soon.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Wish you all the best 🙏🏼

[@blakelawson5862]

At work today i had some banding on a pallet grab my foot and i fell onto my elbows ive had this intense pain in between the 2 sides of my calf and high up at the very back of it.. now im in bed and i can barely move my leg at all, i cant raise it or extend it or close it without and very intense pain .. i cant take my socks off or touch my toes at all, the only comfortable way i can lay is eith my injured right leg laying against my left leg, but it slid of in my sleep and i fell into tears it was so painful... it took me half an hour to manage to get my leg back up ontop of the other one having to stop and practically grab my hurt leg and put it there by hand. I dont know what to do, the pain is so horrible and im afraid to fall asleep

[@blakelawson5862]

I can stand on the leg, i can move my ankle completely and i can probably stond entirely on the injured leg, its just motion thats hurt it, like stepping up or trying to loft the leg upwarda

[@artisanconcrete1212]

I'm 44 and I just had my first calf tear ever and I used to being very active, sprinting, running, basketball, construction, etc. In my older age (sadly enough) I have to stretch in the morning and evening, but obviously not until I fully recover. Ice pack and message/cross vascular message. What a jip getting old 😂😢.

[@artisanconcrete1212]

I have to add that this happened after a 4 hour car drive and my first sprint after getting to my destination it tore and hurt like an sob! Almost dropped me. What about shoe support?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Yes absolutely they can be incredibly sore! Wish you all the best / one step at a time 🙏🏼

[@artisanconcrete1212]

@@ClinicalPhysio thank you! That was a fast reply I'm still finishing your video 😂!

[@iffatjahan5918]

While I am playing football my friends knee hit my calf and it hurts very much what should I do

[@ClinicalPhysio]

I recommend you should get assessed by a Dr or Physio if you are concerned

[@user-qf8ht6rh6r]

Is it normal for a 16 yr old to strain her calf every time she stretches cus I just had the best stretch of my life but had to stop it because I stretched my leg too hard I guess and had a horrible pain in my calf and it felt like my muscles were moving or something and I couldn’t even move my foot cause it’ll make it worse but the pain went away after like 20 seconds or so. My foot still feels slightly numb idk why my foot feels like that when it was my calf but maybe cause they are both near each other

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi, a numb foot certainly would suggest nerve related in relation to what you did. If you were concerned my first suggestion would be to consult a Dr or Physiotherapist for more thorough assessment

[@user-qf8ht6rh6r]

@@ClinicalPhysio thanks 👍

[@vasileiospetropoulos2046]

I had this injury 2 years ago while I was a referee in a basketball game here in the UK! I went back home to Greece for treatment.... As nhs was so so busy! Hahaha They did accupunture Orthotool massage Stretching Tens Strengthen exercises And weight loading progression

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Geia sou! I hope it helped you!!!

[@dev_IL666]

My tear or strain is so bad I can't even walk... what can I do do make recovery faster please. Might I note I'm a skateboarder.

[@mooseman8607]

Not anymore you aren’t

[@elirangobi9113]

As a surfer skater experiencing the same issue that’s the worst feeling but we’ll get back in it as we did in the past.

[@bonovidal2867]

Man same problem for me today, It bought a sk8board after a 15 year pause and after 3 km just pushing I got that pain in the medial Gastroc, now Im in bed after I stretched a bit and out a cream for muscle pain, I cant walk like you... how many days you where out ? Peace god bless

[@Brightestlightt]

I’m in pain you not alone I think I need crutches get walk on that foot at all

[@Shutityou]

Crutches for now then gentle stretching when pain subsides. Do not go too fast. Time is a great healer. Plenty time for calf raises.

[@sukhjotesingh9613]

Are these exercises for a calf tear?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi! More for a calf strain than a full tear

[@sukhjotesingh9613]

@@ClinicalPhysio ok thanks. Will you be doing a video on tears?

[@anantanupam3]

Yeah looking for this as well

[@yazs.m9838]

Ps I’m in week 5 and I still can’t run and when I exercise my leg it just hurts

[@SneakySonn]

How long did your recovery take and what did you do??

[@Mg-mk3zn]

@@SneakySonnhow are you now?

[@SneakySonn]

@@Mg-mk3zn a lot better 🙏 I figured out mine was a soleus calf injury so increasing strength slowly using bent knee calf raises helped a lot

[@Aditya_bhargava]

I can't able to walk right now because it hurt so much when I stretch it out

[@ClinicalPhysio]

If you are concerned I would certainly be sure to get some advice from a physiotherapist to help yourself 🙏🏼

[@suryopras]

I always fail on “Late stage”.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@IanInChengdu]

Can this injury be caused by cramp?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hmmm less likely - cramp is something that should ease and resolve within seconds to minutes

[@user-yz1rc4zr1b]

ترجم على العربيه

[@jaybanthony]

Just happened to me today playing basketball. Initially I thought I had gotten kicked in the calf but it turns out it was a pop.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Please do get assessed if you are concerned!!!

[@jaybanthony]

Thank you. I strained it and am currently rehabbing it. Hope to be back in action in a month. Already showing improvement 2 days later. @@ClinicalPhysio