Pulled Calf Muscle

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.

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 the calf muscle, which may have led to small tears in the fibers of the muscle.
• Grade 2: A Grade 2 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 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 muscle injury to the calves, which one can sustain. A pulled muscle is usually a grade 1 or 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 be caused due to a forceful blow around the shin or mostly 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.

A minor injury like this is best treated with a bit of rest. Apply an ice pack to the injured area 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 pain.

However, 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 muscle does not heal itself within that much time, you ought to see the doctor, who will size up your injury, and prescribe any additional medication for faster recovery.

Pulling a leg muscle while running is a fairly common occurrence and is a problem most people have to face at some point in life. To avoid it, make sure that you warm up the muscle adequately.