A strained calf muscle can be defined as a strain between two muscles of the back area of your leg. It makes up the calf. These muscles are termed soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. Muscle fibers become torn to some extent after the occurrence of strain.
Strained calf muscles can occur when the internal muscles of an individual become overstretched due to exercise. You can say that this injury is common specifically in runners and athletes. Strained calf muscle’s condition can become chronic.
It can become acute due to overpulling. When your injury becomes severe, you may have the symptoms of a strained calf muscle. Mild strain can induce pain in people with a feeling of pulling that appears in the lower half of the leg. It is possible to walk if you have a normal strain.
But it can lead to the feeling of being uncomfortable. Other symptoms that people can experience with strained calf muscles are bruising, mild swelling, redness, and feeling unable to stand up on your foot’s ball. Severe pull can induce sharp pain in your leg.
It affects your movement and inhibits you from walking properly. Following home remedies will be helpful for you if you are experiencing strained calf muscle.
- Rest
Firstly, we are recommending you to take a rest if you have the symptoms of a strained calf muscle. You should not do any sort of physical activity even if you have Grade 1 strain.
Try to hold off on some activities that can work to enhance your swelling or pain. Stop such activities for almost one week. The rest amount is associated with your discomfort level.
If you are active in your life and do exercises and work out, a strained calf muscle makes these activities tough for you to do. If you force yourself to go to the gym, you are taking the risk to make the symptoms of your strained calf muscle worse.
- Ice
Grab the pack of ice if you feel that your tendon or muscle is strained. Make one ice pack if you don’t have one. Use a resealable bag or try to soak in a bath of ice if you don’t have it. In all these instances, you have to apply ice on the affected muscle for 15 to 20 minutes.
Do it after every three hours. You have to follow this remedy for the first three days after getting injured. Do not use ice in the affected area for a long time like more than 20 minutes because it can get frostbite. Ice decreases inflammation and swelling.
It helps to slow the inner bleeding that occurs in a tendon tear or muscle. Do you know that ice works as a natural pain reliever? Yes, it is true. It is just like hot and cold therapy is good for pain management.
Take advice from your doctor before applying ice if you are a patient of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Your doctor will tell you if you are allowed to apply ice or not.
- Compression
Compressing the affected area helps to decrease swelling. You can do it using a boot or elastic wrap. Another affected way that helps to compress the area of your injury is braces. Do not try to wrap the affected area too tightly. It can disturb your blood circulation in that area.
- Elevation
You can call it the final step in all the home remedies. Try to keep the affected muscle elevated above the area of your heart as soon as possible. In many strains, it is not easy to do but you can try it to some extent specifically during sleep.
- OTC Pain Medication
You don’t need to take medicines in case of minor strain. But you have to use these medicines if your injury becomes severe and the doctor recommends surgery. Certain over-the-counter medications provide you with relief.
These medicines include naproxen and ibuprofen. Individuals can use strong doses of these medicines to relieve the pain in case of low tolerance to it.
Another effective home remedy that you can apply to your strained calf muscle is a heating pad. Make sure you awake while using a heating pad. Do not use it directly and for a longer time because it can enhance swelling.
Prevention
It is important to warm up before doing any exercise. Some individuals warm up deeply before their work out. Use the following effective ways to prevent a strained calf muscle.
- Try to stretch the area of your legs before doing any exercise
- Cooldown and take a rest for five minutes after work out
- After taking a rest, stretch the muscle again
