Things to do after calf muscle pain treatment
What is calf muscle pain?
This pain refers to a strain caused within the muscles on the lower back area of the leg — the calf. The two main muscles in the calf area that undergo strain and cause pain are called soleus and gastrocnemius. When these muscles undergo strain, the muscle fibres get torn to a certain degree, resulting in intense calf muscle pain, requiring immediate calf muscle pain treatment.
Calf muscle strain or pain occurs when the internal muscles of the calf region get overstretched due to exercise. It is a very common form of injury, especially among runners and athletes. Calf muscle pain could even be chronic due to acute or long term injury. Therefore, it is imperative to seek calf muscle pain treatment to reduce the pain and strain in the calf muscles.
Symptoms of calf muscle pain
The symptoms of calf muscle pain can be determined mainly by the severity or intensity of an injury to the calf area. A mild muscle strain could cause pain, and you may experience a feeling of pulling inside the lower part of the leg. You could manage to walk with mild strain, however, you may experience discomfort fatigue.
Various symptoms of calf muscle strain include:
● Redness
● Bruising
● Mild swelling
● Not being able to stand properly or walk
Severe strain in the calf muscles may impact mobility, requiring immediate calf muscle pain treatment.
Medical assistance
Checking the symptoms helps to diagnose this strain and pain. The doctor also checks clionically the calf muscles or signs of bruising and swelling. They may ask you to do some specific exercise and stretches to check the muscles. After a detailed examination of the calf muscles, they will recommend appropriate calf muscle pain treatment.
Things to do post calf muscle pain treatment
The patient should not resume any strenuous activity immediately so as to prevent the formation of a blood clot in calf muscle treatment. They should ideally wait for the calf muscles pain to heal. The patient could do some mild stretching exercises that help in faster healing post-treatment. Stretching helps with the swift recovery of the affected calf muscles and also helps with mobility and stability of the ankle and knee joints. Here are some of the stretching exercises that you could do post calf muscle pain treatment.
● Chair stretches: Sit on a sturdy chair. Then straighten and bend the knee in the affected leg. Do it 10 times in one set. Do it again if you feel comfortable.
● Wall stretches: Face the wall, stretch your arms outwards so that they firmly rest against the wall at shoulder height. Straighten the affected leg by pressing its heel firmly on the ground. Then, stretch the other leg forward and make a 90-degree angle with the affected leg. Stay in this posture for about 30 seconds, and then, retreat. Do it for 4 reps. You can do this stretch as and when you feel comfortable doing it during the day.
● Floor stretches: Sit on the floor and keep the affected leg straight. Flex the foot and place its heel firmly on the floor. Then, gently press the toes inwards. Stay in this posture for almost 5 seconds. Repeat this stretch about 10 times.
● Standing stretches: Take a stable chair and firmly grip its back. Then, lift yourself to the balls of the feet. Stay in this posture for 5 seconds and then retreat. Repeat this stretch almost 4 times per session and do it twice every day.
We recommend that you consult the doctor and seek their advice if you notice a blood clot in calf muscle treatment.
How to prevent calf muscle strain?
● Do stretches and warm-up exercises for a minimum of 5 minutes before doing any intense physical workout or exercise.
● Stretch the legs well before any exercise.
● Allow a cooling time of 5 minutes for the body after a workout.
● Stretch the muscles once again for 5 minutes after the cooling downtime.
If you want to know more about a blood clot in calf muscle treatment, visit The Vascular Center today.
