Pulled Calf Muscle

Like I said, if you are into contact sports, you have obviously faced a pulled calf muscle at some point in your life. But still, questions abound about the exact nature and causes of this sports injury.

Pulled Calf Muscle

It is a condition where the calf muscle is 'pulled' or often even torn away from the Achilles tendon in the leg to which it is bound. It is an injury which occurs at the back of the leg just below the knee level. Calf strains are usually classified into three grades based on the severity of the injury.

• Grade 1: A Grade 1 calf strain is a light pull in of the calf muscle which may have led to small tears in the fibers of the calf muscle.
• Grade 2: A Grade 2 calf muscle strain leads to a tear in a large number of fibers and the recovery time is understandably higher than that of a grade 1 muscle pull.
• Grade 3: A Grade 3 calf muscle strain is not just a pull but results in a completely torn calf muscle. In some cases a torn calf muscle may even require surgery.

These were the main grades of calf muscle injury which one can sustain. A pulled calf muscle is usually a grade 1 or a grade 2 case.

It is commonly characterized by a sudden, sharp cramp-like sensation in the calf, accompanied by swelling in the painful area. It is most commonly the result of a bad landing on the foot while running or when a person suddenly accelerates or changes direction while running. It may also be caused due to a forceful blow around the shin or most commonly by doing a heavier calf workout than usual. While these are common sporting occurrences, the injury can be avoided by warming-up the muscles before a workout or a game. By warming up the muscles, you acclimatize them slowly to a heightened activity and hence, the chances of injury are reduced.

Treating a Pulled Muscle

A minor injury like this is best treated with a bit of rest for the leg. Apply an ice pack to the injury for about 20 minutes at a time, 3 times a day, till the swelling reduces. The ice pack is mostly used to reduce the swelling and muscle pain. With the recommendation of the doctor, you can also use anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen to reduce the calf muscle pain. But rest is the best therapy. Your leg will require up to 2 weeks of inactivity after which you should be up and running again! If the calf muscle does not heal itself within that much time, you ought to go see the doctor who will size up your injury and prescribe any additional medication for the muscle to heal quicker.

Pulling a leg muscle while running is a fairly common occurrence and is a problem most people have to face up to at some point in life. To not face it, make sure that you warm up the muscle adequately.