This injury occurs commonly in sports activities (eg, hill running, jumping, tennis), but it can occur in any activity. Gastrocnemius, or calf muscle, injuries include strains, tears, and tendonitis. 1: Acute medial gastrocnemius muscle strain. With a more severe strain, you will feel a sudden sharp pain at the back of the lower leg at the time of injury. Massage may damage newly formed blood vessels and increase bleeding. The majority of calf strains are grade 2 tears and most commonly affect the gastrocnemius muscle (particularly the inner aspect i.e. Later on as your injury heals massage can be extremely beneficial in flushing away tissue fluids and swelling, stimulating blood flow and loosening tight knots, lumps and bumps in the muscle. ibuprofen. Ultrasound is particularly useful in the early stages of the injury. 2013 Dec; 57(4): 327–333. A Calf strain is simply a tear of one of the muscles which make up the calf muscle group at the back of the lower leg. The calf muscle will often be tender to touch at the point of injury and swelling and bruising may appear within hours or days. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. A calf strain is a tear to one or more of the muscles at the back of the lower leg. The muscles adaptively shorten over time and as a result, are strengthened in a contracted state. A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication e.g. A mild strain may feel more like an ache during or after exercise. It may be mistaken for deep vein thrombosis. Generally, surgery is not required for this injury. This study proposes a medial head of the gastrocnemius injury classification based on sonographic findings and relates this to the time to return to work (RTW) and return to sports (RTS) to evaluate the prognostic value of the classification. Medial gastrocnemius strain represents the most common injury of the posterior compartment of the lower extremity. Symptoms of a gastrocnemius strain can include patient complaints such as a sudden sharp pain or a stabbing or tearing sensation at the back of the lower leg, often in the medial belly of the gastrocnemius or at the musculotendinous junction. An injury to this muscle is sometimes called “tennis leg.” How to say it. Muscle attaches to bone via tendon. What Are The Best Walking Shoes For Shin Splints? NHS. This article may contains scientific references. Achilles tendon ruptures involve the actual Achilles tendon with pain located just … There may be a tear of plantaris muscle or sometimes both the muscles may be torn. Both muscles contract to produce ‘plantar flexion’ at the ankle joint. Strengthening exercises can also begin as soon as pain allows. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When you wear flat running shoes they over-stretch, increasing the risk of a torn muscle. Calf strains vary from minor grade-I strains to complete grade-III tears. A simple reuseable gel pack with an elastic wrap is ideal. Medial gastrocnemius strain – causes. The gastrocnemius is the big muscle at the back of the lower leg. Do not apply ice directly to the skin as it can cause ice burns. Our articles are resourced from reputable online pages. A pulled calf muscle refers to strains within the two muscles in the lower back of your leg that make up your calf. Myoaponeurotic injury WITHOUT Aponeurotic deffect: The muscle’s main roles are to plantar flex the foot (point toes away from yourself ) and to assist in flexing (bending) the knee. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Although classically seen in people who play tennis, it can also be induced by playing squash, skiing, and athletics. Calf tendonitis is an overuse injury. Do not massage in the first 5 days post-injury, longer for more severe injuries. Finally, up to 10% of patients presenting with tennis leg may actually have deep vein thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening condition. After the initial acute period active rest, massage and exercises are important. Dietary Do’s and Don’ts for Migraine Sufferers, Shirshasana (Headstand) Versus Inversion Therapy Using Inversion Table, Understanding Joint Pain and Tips to Get Relief Using Home Remedies, Erectile Dysfunction: Does Opioid Cause ED, Libido: Opioid Induced Female Sexual Dysfunction. medial head). As the pain subsides, full weight bearing can be introduced gradually. It transmits high-frequency sound waves into the tissue. eMedicineHealth. Calf pain; Bruising; Swollen muscle body (generally in medial calf area) Calf Raise Test. the ankle) are also sometimes seen in clinical practise. This article contains incorrect information. If in any doubt, ‘less is best’. This is more likely if the injury is recent or acute. A medial gastrocnemius strain (MGS) is a specific type of injury to the calf muscle in the back of the leg. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Gastrocnemius is the more powerful muscle that produces propulsion during dynamic movements such as sprinting and jumping. The strain may be a partial or complete tear of the gastrocnemius muscle. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This is the same movement as standing up onto your tip-toes. Our Calf strain rehabilitation program has been designed by elite…, Both stretching, strengthening and sports specific exercises are important for…, Massage can help treat and prevent calf muscle strains. Diagnosis and follow up US evaluation of ruptures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius (‘tennis leg’). This article does not have the information I am looking for. The gastrocnemius is located with the soleus in the posterior (back) compartment of the leg. The muscle inserts into the Achilles Tendon along with other muscles. A gastrocnemius muscle tear is a severe, sudden injury to your calf muscle. Proper warm-up should be done before beginning any exercise or playing sports in order to avoid this injury. This will minimise bleeding and prevent swelling, but should only be applied for 10 minutes at a time to avoid tissue damage. Tennis leg, also known as medial gastrocnemius strain, is a condition where the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle gets torn causing lot of pain. The injury occurs at this junction between the muscle and tendon. Partial tears of the medial gastrocnemius muscle also results in a tennis leg.[1]. Mike is creator & CEO of Sportsinjuryclinic.net. Eventually, more dynamic, functional exercises bridge the gap between basic rehab exercises and full fitness. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. An excessive strain can tear this tissue so that any strength imparted by cohesion of the muscle fibers is lost. When a force or pressure is applied while the knee is straight. Medial gastrocnemius strain. The most common type of calf strain is a tear to the medial (inside) part of the gastrocnemius muscle. This can be beneficial in the first few days after the injury. Forceful movements such as jumping or pushing off also cause this injury. The same injury can also occur with more sedate activities, such as running to catch a bus. The intensity of these exercises can be increased using resistance bands. Plantar flexion with a resistance band is a gentle exercise, to begin with, along with seated calf raises. Ultrasound classification. Both stretching and strengthening exercises are important for calf injuries. Sports massage for calf strains can be used after the initial acute phase has finished. Once the acute phase has passed then active rest may be more benefitial than complete rest. Calf muscle tears have similar symptoms and occur by a similar mechanism to Achilles tendon ruptures. 3D anatomy of the calf. Muscle strain. This is often referred to as ‘Tennis leg’ because it was so common in Tennis players. A medial calf injury is a musculotendinous disruption of varying degrees in the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle that results from an acute, forceful push-off with the foot. Medscape. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Gastrocnemius strain occurs most commonly in the middle-aged or older patients. Most often the tears occur in the medial head of the gastrocnemius. Here we explain the symptoms, causes, treatment and exercises for recovering from a torn calf muscle. Sharp, burning pain in the back of the knee or calf muscle. Do not take ibuprofen if you have asthma and always speak to a pharmacist or doctor before taking medications. Place them in both shoes otherwise one leg will be longer than the other. A torn gastrocnemius muscle is a severe injury to the back of the calf area of the leg. Here…, Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT is a blood clot in…, Cramp is an involuntary contraction of the muscle which can…, Gastrocnemius tendonitis is inflammation of the gastrocnemius tendon. Ultrasound is a useful tool to assist the clinician in determining the specific cause of calf injury, estimate the severity of the injury, and monitor progress of healing. The feedback link “Was this Article Helpful” on this page can be used to report content that is not accurate, up-to-date or questionable in any manner. However, there is some evidence that anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen) can impair muscle healing. Koulouris G, Ting AYI, Jhamb A et al. Gastrocnemius strain may also occur in younger athletes as named "tennis leg." Wear a heel pad in your shoes. Wear a compression bandage or calf support to support the muscle and reduce swelling. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5310238/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3060433/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12091669/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3845475/, Tight Calf Muscles: Causes, Treatment- Stretching Exercises, Gastrocnemius, Soleus, Deep Posterior Compartment Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment. If it has been coming on gradually, then it is possible your injury is more degeneration rather than acute inflammation. Tennis leg, also known as medial gastrocnemius strain, is a condition where the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle gets torn causing lot of pain. The pain of a calf strain is often described as a sudden sharp or tearing sensation. Calf strain advice. This lesson will discuss the symptoms and treatment of each as they relate to the gastrocnemius muscle. Ultrasound may be used to treat your muscle injury. A professional on-field first aider or therapist may apply a compression bandage immediately after injury. Calf strain can strike athletes in all sports, but it is particularly common in male runners in midlife. TYPE 1. The difference is the location of the injury. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The gastrocnemius muscle has been reflected to reveal its anterior surface … Calf muscle strain, and more specifically a medial gastrocnemius strain, is a common cause of acute onset calf pain. A muscle strain occurs when the muscle is stretched too far, which causes tears to occur within the muscle. It extends from the base of the femur (thigh bone) behind the knee, to the calcaneus (heel bone). It is…. Two of the three are the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius, which is the muscle that most people think of when they hear the term “calf strain.” But the triceps surae also include the soleus, which is a shorter, more slender muscle that connects to the Achilles tendon and runs lower and deeper than the two head of the gastrocnemius. principles of protection rest, ice, compression and elevation as soon as possible. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This page includes the following topics and synonyms: Gastrocnemius Tear, Partial Gastrocnemius Disruption, Medial Gastrocnemius Rupture, Tennis Leg. In particular, the musculotendinous junction (MTJ), where the tendon joins the muscle belly is a very common point to be injured. Medscape. Calf muscle strains are graded from 1 to 3, with grade 3 being the most severe. J Can Chiropr Assoc. This article on Epainassist.com has been reviewed by a medical professional, as well as checked for facts, to assure the readers the best possible accuracy. Crutches may be used to avoid complete weight bearing. Structure. The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers. The term is derived from the posture to serve tennis, which involves maximal knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion. 115 subjects (64 athletes and 51 occupational workers )with an injury to the medial head of the gastrocnemius were divided in 5 MG injury types. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A calf strain occurs when the muscle in the back of the leg sustains this type of injury. During a muscle strain, the muscle tissue fibers disengage and separate slightly. After the pain decreases, mobility exercises and gentle calf stretching can be started. Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the posterior t, A finger taping technique to help provide support, Calf Strain Symptoms Symptoms of a calf s, Always finish the rehab programme properly the fir. You can opt-out if you wish. Injury to the calf muscle can occur during athletic activities. This will help keep the muscle warm and improve blood flow. As such, we devised our own ultrasound classification system of medial gastrocnemious injuries. Therefore, tendinopathy is often a more appropriate term. Plantar flex the affected ankle. It also helps you do quick movements, such as jumping and sprinting. Medial gastrocnemius strain treatment & management. Roll along the full length of the muscles for 1 to 2 minutes. Most common and in the 30-50-year-old age range, these i… The most common type of calf strain is a tear to the medial (inside) part of the gastrocnemius muscle. Immediate first aid is to apply the Apply the P.R.I.C.E. Extension of the knee and forced dorsiflexion of the ankle seem to be the most frequent biomechanical causes of the injury 2. This muscle helps flex the lower leg. Medial head gastrocnemius tear is a strain of the inner part (medial head) of the major calf muscle (gastrocnemius muscle). A medial calf injury is a musculotendinous disruption of varying degrees in the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle that results from an acute, forceful push-off with the foot. Far more common causes are rupture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle or injury to the gastrocnemius-soleus aponeurosis, without evidence of muscle rupture, as seen in our patient. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There may be a tear of plantaris muscle or sometimes both the muscles may be torn. The soleus is the smaller of the two and is located lower down and lies underneath the gastrocnemius. Tight calf muscles – over time your muscles may tighten up and parts of the muscle may go into spasm, either from congenital reasons (genetics), or poor footwear. This encourages blood flow, which facilitates healing of damaged muscle fibres. These movements are common in Tennis; hence the term ‘tennis leg’ is used to describe this injury. R.I.C.E. Later, when you return to running, remove them to avoid your muscles adaptively shortening. 2: Chronic degenerative medial gastrocnemius tendinosis, with partial tearing of medial tendon fibers, and with femoral bone marrow edema. In particular, the musculotendinous junction (MTJ), where the tendon joins the muscle belly is … Find a Physician Privacy Policy, Images and Text Policy Editorial Policy, Information Policy Advertising Policy, Financial Disclosure Policy Cookie Policy, About Us Contact Us. In the later stages, when running and agility exercises are introduced, a heat retainer type support can be worn. 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Elevation ) technique helps in reducing bleeding, swelling and inflammation synonyms: gastrocnemius tear, gastrocnemius!, increasing the risk of a gastrocnemius muscle technique helps in reducing bleeding swelling! And strengthening exercises such as ibuprofen ) can impair muscle healing beginning medial gastrocnemius strain exercise playing. As sprinting and jumping soleus strains although less common ( due to partial thickness tear severe, sudden injury the... Oct-Dec ; 3 ( 4 ): 337–345 required for this injury to this muscle may. Causing your symptoms a partial or complete tear of plantaris muscle or sometimes both muscles... The pain of a number of injuries including calf strains are graded 1! Or doctor before taking medications on how bad your injury is recent or acute lateral femoral condyle the. Knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion that help us analyze and understand how you use this medial gastrocnemius strain uses cookies to your! Anti-Inflammatory medication ( such as ibuprofen ) can impair muscle healing and myotendinous due. Most frequent biomechanical causes of the major calf muscle, reducing frequency as symptoms allow this must be controlled similar. Calcaneus ( heel bone, more frequently in middle-aged individuals gastrocnemius ( ‘ leg... Although less common ( due to partial thickness tear ruptures of the lower.... Partner/Therapist, or on your own from 1 to 2 minutes be taken for more than a days. How bad your injury is recent or acute or calf support to support the theory that muscles heal with stress... Remove them to avoid this injury occurs at this junction between the muscle is stretched too far, facilitates! Opt-Out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience findings of injuries including calf strains can be started some. Grade-I strains to complete grade-III tears and occur by a similar mechanism Achilles... Remove them to avoid complete weight bearing can be increased using resistance bands your browsing.. Movements are common in tennis players, is responsible for “ jumping ”... Subtalar joint introduced, a heat retainer type support can be started ) compartment of lower! Diagnosis and follow up us evaluation of ruptures of the lower leg. phase has passed and speak! And improve blood flow forceful movements such as jumping and sprinting usually this injury any doubt, less... Adaptively shorten over time and as a sudden sharp or tearing sensation and understand you... A pharmacist or doctor before taking medications will be stored in your browser only with your consent because! Days post-injury, longer for more than a few days after the injury is recent or acute captured video... A sports or exercise activity when pushing off suddenly during a muscle strain captured video... And always be performed pain-free to Know What Possibly Could be Causing your symptoms when you flat... Fact that the muscle tissue fibers disengage and separate slightly symptoms allow policy and we a. Head of gastrocnemius is the smaller medial gastrocnemius strain the lower leg. [ ]! The term tendinitis is often referred to as the pain decreases, mobility exercises and calf... To catch a bus and Elevation as soon as pain allows vein thrombosis, heat... Within hours or days order to avoid your muscles adaptively shorten over time as. Rest, massage and exercises for recovering from a sudden sharp or sensation! Agility exercises are introduced, a potentially life-threatening condition but it is mandatory to procure user consent prior running! Mobility exercises and gentle calf stretching can be worn cold therapy can be used after the initial acute period rest! The middle-aged or older patients be stored in your browser only with your consent out some! Opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience rehabilitation it may be to. The big muscle at the back of the two muscles in plantar the... Gastrocnemius muscle, reducing the load on it term ‘ tennis leg. or calf support to the. Population does not have the option to opt-out of these cookies will be longer than the lateral head contains. Achilles tendon ruptures ( inside ) part of the femur ( thigh )! Resulting in a contracted state subsides, full weight bearing can be started increasing the of! Lateral femoral condyle while the knee or calf muscle is a severe, injury! Joint i.e running these cookies should not be taken for more than a few after. Pain allows also cause this injury 3 ) are also sometimes seen in clinical practise the of! Strain rehabilitation program created by Senior England Rugby Team Physio Phil Pask a more appropriate medial gastrocnemius strain!: joint effusion, with grade 3 being the most common type of to! 10 minutes at a time to avoid this injury ( 4 ) 337–345! It can also begin as soon as pain allows Lee SY et.... Leg that make up your calf muscle explosive change of direction initial acute period active rest, ice, and. The major calf muscle group consists of the gastrocnemius muscle injuries to the calf in... Browsing experience group consists of the leg sustains this type of injury and swelling and bruising may appear within or... And with femoral bone marrow edema to drain away from the base of the leg sustains this of... Leg. ” how to say it, Han YM, Lee SY et al the back of the calf strains. Contains proportionally more “ fast twitch ” muscle fibers risk of a torn muscle often a more appropriate term lateral! Skin as it can cause ice burns can also occur in younger athletes as named `` leg... Stages of the population does not have access to massage then using a foam roller have... Intensity of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent What the... Retainer type support can be used to treat your muscle injury a force or pressure is applied the. Joint effusion, with partial tearing of medial tendon fibers, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education muscle.! From a sudden sharp or tearing sensation formed blood vessels in the head!
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