Tight Calves from Running? Why Stretches Don't Work!

Does running make your calves tight no matter how much you stretch or what else you do? Here's why you get sore, tight calves after running and how to solve it for good.
Even the best stretches for calves don’t address why your calves hurt from running. In fact, once you start feeling tight calves while running, all the classic tight calves running stretches do is maybe give you some temporary calf pain relief.
You’re still not addressing the root cause, though, which is why stretching doesn’t really fix calves tight from running.
The question you should be asking is how to prevent your calves from tightening while running.
In this video I’ll show you the two main running form mistakes that cause calf pain while running and calf pain after running. I’ll also help you understand how your calf muscles work so you can identify the exact source of your calf pain or even calf strain and finally learn how to fix calf pain from running for good.
No calf stretch will stop calf pain in any lasting way. Changing your running form in key ways is what finally gets to the source of the problem.
Here’s my best free resource to help you learn to run without tightening up your calves:
The Quads and Calves Solution programs.balancedrunner.com/c...
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Check out these videos to dive deeper:
The Right Way to Engage Your Core • The Right Way to Engag...
Biggest Running Push-Off Mistake • The Biggest Running Pu...
It’s Not Your Footstrike • It’s Not Your Footstri...
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You need to be healthy. When you're ready, there are two ways you can get my help:
--Implement The Balanced Runner System™ so you can run more naturally. Check out our online camp here: www.balancedrunner.com/online...
--Break a cycle of injury or focus on a specific goal. Book a free discovery call for my online one-to-one program here: www.balancedrunner.com/work-w...
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KZbin Video URL: • Tight Calves from Runn...
Video hashtags: #tightcalves #TheBalancedRunner #JaeGruenke

[@balancedrunner]

Thanks for watching! What have you been doing for your tight calves?

[@naterkane_also]

when the massage gun wouldn't make a reasonable dent, I went back to kind of excrutiating (but not injury pain) foam rolling and it did help calm things down. the soleas calf muscle is what gets tight on me.

[@balancedrunner]

@@naterkane_also thanks for commenting! With soleus tightness it's often the hips that are the issue--they're not extending enough.

[@miguelfierro4605]

Foam rolling, Thera gun, but mostly a lot of rest.

[@balancedrunner]

@@miguelfierro4605 thanks! How long do you normally need to rest before you can run again?

[@paulbbareil6080]

I did one of your Feldenkrais lesson "free your feet" and it magically made my calfs feel awesome after couple of days I can now do tempo run without fear. Before it was the foam roaller and very few tempo/fast runs.

[@DaBears08]

I feel like you just told me everything about my form is wrong. Very informative video. Thank you

[@FrankAn-vu8qh]

Thanks for sharing, I've been running for over a year now, and I do relaxation after every run, but my outer thigh and inner calf muscles still feel very tired. After watching your video, I realized that I don't have enough core strength, so it causes my calves to do a lot of work.

[@balancedrunner]

I'm glad it was helpful! But remember, it's not core strength that you need to address this, it's core *action*. Check out the resource in the video description!

[@MaC-gv4ty]

Welcome back

[@ginobasso]

love all the new production - pix and tricks! and of course the content is always great.

[@balancedrunner]

Thanks @ginobasso! The learning curve for that was steep! And I still want to improve the sound and frame myself better. So hopefully each video to come will be better than the last. 🙂

[@mikoliker]

This video was worthy of enough for me to subscribe to the channel. Thank you very much for the valuable hint.

[@paulabedford6028]

Great video , I love the detailed explanations of the anatomy of the muscle of foot / calf too

[@balancedrunner]

Thanks Paula!

[@FPS1200]

Very helpful information! I specialize in High Speed Filming and I'm thinking about filming the two styles of running that could be causing this tight calf issue with my special Super Slow Motion camera, so that people can visually watch what your describing.

[@Mtlk77]

Just had an FI and the extra work that I do in my foot really keeps the calves tight. Stress at work has amplified old patterns, need to find an old toe movement ATM that used to really help too. Also Kevin Moore with the Reembody Method has some great stuff that has helped my pelvis to foot to upper back relationships.

[@simonerhard5034]

most useful, as always

[@balancedrunner]

Thanks Simon!

[@DenisTruong]

thank you so much, i have been having this issue for awhile

[@erikaa.3030]

Thank you so much for making this video! I'm always looking for more experienced runners and trainers as a new runner trying my best to avoid injuries at all costs! Thank you for your wisdom! Time do some pilates to strengthen my core!

[@balancedrunner]

You're welcome, @erikaa.3030. But I don't recommend Pilates. Check out my playlist on the runner's core: kzbin.info/aero/PLDj5fqgwds4ewCo6ZhCOS8tAGDdevMb6H

[@cathrinejones7294]

Thank you really informative and I can identify with landing on the outside of my feet! Really helpful 👍

[@balancedrunner]

You're welcome! BTW it is normal and healthy to land somewhat on the outsides of your feet, so don't aim for flat. But the amount the runner in the red top is doing in the picture is too much outside and forefoot.

[@ohsweetiewhy6353]

thanks for this vid!

[@balancedrunner]

You bet!

[@bwrhodes1955]

I've had problematic calves since 1968, and I do believe this core action will help immensely. Yes, 1968.

[@balancedrunner]

Goodness. Let me know how it goes. Definitely try the free mini-course in the description--it will work better than just trying to focus on. moving differently.

[@bwrhodes1955]

Update: one month on, I'm running 6 times a week, 6-7 km each workout. Zero calf tightness. Eureka !

[@ratilalmakanji2372]

Good advice I just grab whatever shoe available Anything for back of knee pain

[@geogeek1758]

Thanks - I've been trying to hold my core tight because I'm still fairly heavy (fat) so thought holding a tight core would be beneficial. I'll try those suggestions & hope loosening up a bit will help with the calves.

[@balancedrunner]

Try the course in the description.

[@munrowen]

Great video. I don’t really have tight calf’s but I do suffer with cramps at the end of longer races and I think that the information given in this video could well apply to calf cramp sufferers too?? (of course, fuelling and hydration need to be considered as well). But having better core action to take some stress off the calf’s should make them more fatigue resistant and hopefully reduce the chances of the dreaded cramps ?🤞.

[@balancedrunner]

Yes, @munrowen, this info definitely applies to you if you suffer from calf cramps, along with fuelling and hydration, especially electrolytes.

[@munrowen]

@@balancedrunner Great, thank you so much ! Things to work on before my next marathon 😁

[@nickmoore5105]

Really good information thanks Jae. Picture at 6:00 is an excellent illustration of the core action. I don’t have particularly tight calves, but I recently shifted to running in my Vibram five fingers a lot more (I just love how it feels) and I’ve noticed my calves tighter than they were.

[@balancedrunner]

Thanks Nick, glad you like it! You will definitely use your deep calf muscles more in the Vibrams since you use your feet more. Excellent for your foot strength and health in the long run, but there is an adaptation period when they'll feel a bit more sore and tight. Obviously the better your core action, the better this phase goes. But to some extent it's unavoidable. Enjoy your new shoes!

[@Andy-co6pn]

I onky get a tight left calf , my right doesnt get tight . On my right foot i have a hard pad of skin on the sole where my big toe meets the sole of my foot .

[@user-bw6zv4tq2r]

My calves aren't just tight, they are as rock hard as a granite boulder! I have done so much walking since I was 19, (ped mobile, dontcha know -- how I got from point A to point B and C amd ......Yeah. Then there is the hours and hours and hours I put in solely for health purposes and there EYE have it : Granite boulders for calves. And lately, they are SO hard, that it is just THIS side of painful. Plus, the OUTSIDE of my right calf starts cramping and being quite painful -- it was so bad 4 days ago, I thought I was gonna hafta call my husband to come from work to pick me up and get me home. The kicker? I was walking in the little plaza that abuts my back yard. (A fence does separate the properties, Thank God! I drink WAY more electorlyte waters than I probably need to. I TRY to suck down at least 32 oz. of water as well. Every day. Not got that down to a 100% yet, but working on it. I want to eventually do day rucking and light town trekking and .... after this past Thurs., Fri. and Saturday, plus Sunday; although I didn't walk that day, I was so, messed up, that I just sat it out and tried to use motion and sitting to work my hip out --- chock full of arthritis you see -- all of that said, to say that I am gravely concerned that I might have to give up my beloved walking. I AM stubborn cuss though, so..........having given up walking for more than 3 years to see if 'time would heal all' and realizing that it didn't ...........I started back in with my health walks.Nocturnal cramping, day cramping and not just the legs! Sometimes different sections of my abs cramp up and I swear those cramps travel around my midsection! Upper arms, forearms, aaaacchh! Thus, I have started hunting the 'tubes' looking for vids like this one, in desparate hopes that they will help me get a handle on my sitch. I apologize for the mini novella, but, I just needed to type this one out.Blessings a hundredfold to all.

[@paulbbareil6080]

I feel like this lack of correct core action is also the source of ITB band problems. If the core does not twist then the weight is not transfered to the stance leg and so the glute med has to work extra to keep the hip from falling. Am I right?

[@balancedrunner]

Yes, you're right Paul

[@beyondreality8506]

I get an hour and a half massage twice a month snd soak in Epson salt 3 times a week and take my magnesium.

[@SPMAN-mp5ff]

I think this is all because of my shoes😅. the back is to high and its make me having bad landing😢.

[@balancedrunner]

could be!

[@Amwolf]

I used to cut the high backs off my Asics! I got some odd looks at the running club 🤭 but later felt justified when I saw a video of Mo Farah saying he made his shoe supplier give him custom made shoes without the high back.