Torn Calf Muscle
Caring for a torn calf muscle
A torn calf muscle is usually the result of an injury, often a sports-related injury. You’ll know you have a torn calf muscle if you have a lot of pain that starts suddenly in the lower part of the leg. A torn calf muscle happens when you’re speeding up or changing direction. Often the muscles that are involved will spasm violently when the injury happens, causing the toes to point down and bruising in the foot and angle. The good news about this injury is that in most cases, the calf muscle does reattach to the tendon by itself.
There are three different degrees of a torn calf muscle. A grade 1 calf strain is the least serious. This degree is characterized by a stretching of the muscle and micro tears in the muscle fibers. Recovery from a grade 1 calf train usually takes about two weeks.
A grade 2 calf train involves a partial tearing of muscle fibers. Recovery from this degree of the injury can take up to two months. The most severe type of torn calf muscle injury is the grade 3 calf strain. This is characterized by a complete tear of muscle fibers in the lower leg. Sometimes surgery is needed to repair this level of injury. Recovery time can be up to four months.
If you believe you have a torn calf muscle, you will need to see a doctor. However, you can practice some important recovery things before you get in to see him. First line treatment is known as RICE. Make sure you rest the injured leg. Put ice on it while you’re resting it, and keep it wrapped up. You can either use a leg brace or a bandage that will keep the injury wrapped tightly also make sure you keep the injured leg elevated to prevent blood from pooling in the injury. You can use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to help relieve the pain.
After you’ve been evaluated by the doctor to find out what grade of calf muscle injury you have, then you will want to continue with your RICE treatment. You’ll need to refrain from sports and stay off of the leg as much as you possibly can. The doctor may also prescribe some exercises to help you recover. Range of motion exercises will help you regain the use of the leg. You should start these exercises as soon as the severe pain is gone. You will probably still have some pain with these exercises, but they are necessary in order for you to regain complete movement. The best way to stretch the proper muscles is by pulling your foot and toes up while keeping your legs straight. Hold each stretch for 10 seconds, repeating about 10 times.
You may also want to start doing progressive calf stretching exercises after you’ve successfully been completing the range of motion exercises regularly. After the progressive calf stretching, then you will move on to progressive strengthening exercises.