Calf Muscle Strain

The calf muscles are present at the back of the lower part of the leg. Calf muscle strain is often referred to as pulled calf muscles. Muscle strain mostly occurs when the muscles are stretched excessively beyond its capacity. If too much of pressure is exerted on the calf muscles all of a sudden, then also one can get calf muscle strain. Overuse of the muscles or if the muscles are directly hit, also means the muscle can get strained. Sports persons are more prone to get this type of muscle strain.

Symptoms

The severity of the injury is categorized into three different grades. The symptoms of calf muscle in each grade are as follows:

Grade I Symptoms: The severity of the muscle strain is very low in this case where the muscle fibers are slightly stretched or contracted. A sudden sharp pain is experienced at the back of the leg which leads to muscle cramps in the legs. As a result, the muscles becomes tight and inflexible. The taut muscle condition may go within a week but to fully recover from the strain it will take around two weeks of time.

Grade II Symptoms: This condition arises when there is a partial tearing of the muscle fibers take place. Along with the sharp muscle pain, swelling in the calf area is observed which can make the area tender. The pain is badly felt even while doing movements like walking. Moderate amount of bruising may be seen in the affected part. The tightness of the muscles takes more than one week to go. For total recovery, the required time varies from five to eight weeks.

Grade III Symptoms: This is the most severe form of calf muscle strain which results from total rupture of the muscle fibers. The extreme pain starts as soon as the muscle is injured and is accompanied by bruising and swelling in the region. In certain cases, the muscles fibers may get bundled up at the top of the calf and is visible as a lump at the injury site. At least three months are required to recover fully from this kind of injury.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Muscle strain diagnosis begins with physical examination of the injury. They test the pain while contraction of the muscles and its tenderness of the calf. Doctors also inquire about the medical history of the patient and about the recent activities. When the muscle calf strain is severe, then MRI scan may be required to confirm the extent of injury.

Treatment depends on the grade of the injury. For a grade I strain, resting of the legs and application of ice on the affected area for a couple of weeks is enough for pain management. For a higher degree of strain, rest is required for a longer period of time. If there is a swelling, then the lower part of the leg has to be kept in an elevated condition. Use of compression bandage on the injury will prevent further swelling. Painkillers help in relieving the pain, but should be taken only after consulting a doctor. If the muscle fibers are in a badly torn condition, then surgery is the only option in order to repair the damage.

Until the pain subsides, activities like running, jumping or lifting of heavy weights has to be suspended. While walking, the strides should be kept short to lessen the pain. Once the acute pain is gone, steps need to be taken to add strength to the calf muscles. Physical therapy is of great help in this regard. At this stage, prior to any physical activity, application of heat compression is proved to be highly beneficial. The muscles have to be stretched gently everyday at least five to six times a day, so that the muscles are in a condition to absorb the physical stress all over again. Exercises will strengthen the muscles and prevent further recurrence of this kind of in jury in future.