CALF MUSCLE PAIN You are Not sure what is causing your calf pain? Check out - Calf muscle pain is a common problem that can make walking, running and jumping difficult and painful. Pain in the calf region may be due to injury, underlying medical condition or a problem in the nerves or arteries in the lower leg, meaning accurate diagnosis is vital. Whilst calf muscle pain is often something minor like a grade one muscle strain, the problem may not actually be in the muscle itself and could be indicative of a serious problem such as a DVT so should always be treated with caution. Common Causes of Calf Muscle Pain Let's start by looking at the most common causes of calf muscle pain, how they present and what causes them. Calf Tear Calf muscles pain is often caused by a tear in the muscle which it is overstretched Partial or complete tear in one of the calf muscles from overstretching. Most common cause of calf muscle pain Causes: Sprinting, sudden push off from stationary position, quick change of direction Symptoms: Instant calf muscle pain, bruising, swelling. If complete rupture, unable to push up on tiptoe Calf Cramps Calf muscle pain is often caused by cramping in the muscle Involutary spasms on the calf muscles which can be extremely painful. aka "Charley Horse" Causes: imbalance of vitamins/minerals, muscle fatigue, diet, dehydration and muscle imbalance Symptoms: Upper calf pain, tightness and spasming, difficulty walking. May last anything from a few seconds to a few days Bakers Cyst A Bakers Cyst is a collection of fluid behind the knee that often causes calf muscle pain Collection of excess fluid in the popliteal bursa behind the knee which can burst releasing fluid into the upper calf Causes: Knee swelling from injury or underlying condition e.g. arthritis or gout Symptoms: Swelling behind the knee, upper calf muscle pain, worse with activity, bruising around ankle Achilles Tendonopathy Achilles tendonitis can occur in different parts of the tendon, both causing calf pain Inflammation, degeneration or tearing of the inflexible achilles tendon. Most common cause of lower calf muscle pain Causes: repetitive stress through the tendon, jumping , running, overstretching Symptoms: lower calf pain, thickening in the achilles tendon, pain on tiptoes, ankle stiffness Other Causes of Calf Pain Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) DVT's usually present with pain, swelling, redness and warmth in the calf region A deep vein thrombosis can be a very serious cause of calf pain. It is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the calf or thigh. A DVT requires IMMEDIATE medical attention as it reduces the blood flow to the foot, and there is the risk that the blood clot could break off and travel through the bloodstream to the heart or lungs which can cause a heart attack or pulmonary embolus. The common signs of a DVT are pain, redness, warmth and swelling in the calf region. The pain often gets worse if your dorsiflex your foot (pull your toes up towards you). DVT’s often develop after surgery or periods of inactivity e.g. plane journeys, and there can be a genetic link. Trapped Nerve Compression of the nerves of the lower leg can cause pain in the calf, pins and needles and numbness in the calf region. A trapped nerve can cause calf muscle pain, numbness and pins and needles The compression may be coming from the lower back where the nerve originates from, or at any point along the nerve itself. Trapped nerves are usually accompanied by changes in sensation such as pins tingling or numbness and pain often spreads. Any symptoms of nerve compression, should be checked out by your doctor. You can find out more in the nerve pain section on our sister site. Muscle Imbalance Muscle weakness and tightness is a common cause of calf muscle pain. Weak muscles will tire quickly if you are on your feet for prolonged periods of time, so it is important to work on both strength and endurance. If the calf is tight, it is prone to damage from increased tension, making stretching exercises vital. Exercises are the best way to combat this and it important to get the right balance of strengthening and stretching exercises - visit the calf strengthening and calf stretching exercises sections for a whole range of exercises that will help combat this cause of calf muscle pain. Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Also known as peripheral artery disease, this is when there is a narrowing in the arteries which slows blood flow. If this happens in the lower leg, it can cause calf muscle pain. Peripheral Vascular Disease is commonly associated with smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. In severe cases, the foot and lower leg may change colour – this warrants immediate medical attention. Calf Muscle Pain Treatment The best calf muscle pain treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the pain. If there is damage to one of the calf muscles, then usually a combination of strengthening and stretching exercises alongside a course of physical therapy will be recommended. In more severe cases, such as a complete tear, then surgery may be required. Calf Pain With Activities Calf Pain Walking Calf muscle pain when walking is usually the result of reduced blood flow, and therefore lack of oxygen, to the calf muscles and usually settles down quickly with rest. Pain that persists even after resting may indicate a more serious problem such as peripheral vascular disease. Calf Pain In Runners Calf pain running is typically caused by the muscles being overloaded. Any sudden increase in running activities, be it distance, speed, surface, or the introduction of speed or uphill work, can overload the calf muscles resulting in pain. A lack of strength or endurance in the calf muscles is a common cause of calf pain in runners. A good test is to stand on 1 leg and push up onto your tiptoes then slowly lower back down. If you can do this 30 times on each leg, it indicates good calf muscle strength and endurance Calf Muscle Twitching A twitching sensation in the calf muscles often indicates benign fasciculation syndrome, a condition due to a harmless disorder of the nerves that activate the calf muscles. The calf muscle twitching usually stops when you use the calf muscle e.g. walking, but will often return when you rest. Calf muscle twitching can also be the first sign of cramp, or that you have overworked the muscles. In rare instances, the twitching may indicate a more serious condition such as Lyme Disease, Multiple Sclerosis or Motor Neurone Disease. Calf Pain At Night It is very common to be more aware of pain at night as there are less distractions around. Calf muscle pain at night is often caused by nocturnal cramps which will usually wake you up. They tend to settle fairly quickly if you stretch the calf muscles. Calf muscle pain at night can also indicate restless leg syndrome, where you have an overwhelming urge to keep moving your legs. Calf Muscle Tightening Tight calf muscles is usually the result of overuse such as long distance running, particularly if you don't warm up and cool down properly. Calf tightness can also develop after an injury, either in the calf itself or an ankle injury. Stretching exercises focusing on each of the calf muscles, gastrocnemius and soleus, when done daily are usually the best way to overcome calf muscle tightening Calf Muscle Knot The technical term for calf muscles knots is myofascial trigger points. This is where a small area of muscle fibres and the underlying fascia tighten forming small lumps in the muscle, like a knot. They may only hurt when you press on there, or in some cases they can cause pain at anytime for no obvious reason. Knots typically develop after a calf muscle injury but can also be related to poor posture, stress and prolonged inactivity. Sudden Calf Pain The most common cause of sudden calf pain is a calf muscle strain, where part of the calf muscle is overstretched causing it to tear. It typically occurs during sports and may be accompanied by bruising and swelling. Calf cramps can also develop very suddenly, either during activity or at rest. For calf muscle pain . Book your treatment with us Call us on 0711915777 #ImmediateCarePhysioClinic Pain is not a lifestyle