Calf Muscle Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Care

What is Calf Muscles?

Calf muscles are on the back foot, stretched between the knee and Achilles tendon. A calf pain experienced when there is an abnormal feeling felt in the region. It can be a pain, throbbing, or tingling. Pain or discomfort may occur as a result of injury, trauma, excessive running and sports.

Calf Muscle

What Causes Calf Muscle Pain?

Causes of calf muscle pain can be divided into two groups: injury or health. Injury causes include trauma to the calf muscles. Medical causes including various conditions that either cause muscle pain as a symptom.

Injury

1. A calf muscle strain is a common injury that causes pain. This occurs when the calf muscles are exaggerated and torn muscles. This causes swelling, acute pain, and bruising. This pain is exacerbated when walking, stretching, or standing on tiptoe. 
2. Muscle cramps can be very painful spasms. cramping is not always an injury, but may result from the exercise or overuse of the calf muscles.

Medical

1. Achilles Tendinitis is inflammation and irritation of the Achilles tendon. This condition will cause pain in the calf, and the pain will be increased through exercise or walking. In addition, the skin over the tendon may feel warm to the touch. 
2. Baker cyst is formed when there is a buildup of joint fluid behind the knee. The only symptom of this condition is pain and stiffness in the legs. 
3. Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of blood clots in the deep veins in the body. If they form in the legs can cause calf pain. DVT can cause pain, skin discoloration, swelling, and warm skin.

What Other Symptoms Might Occur with Calf Muscle Pain?

Pain is not the only symptom associated with calf pain. Other physical changes that may occur along with calf muscle pain include:

1. Fever.
2. Calves may feel like burning. 
3. Joint pain, especially in the joints of the foot. 
4. Muscle spasms in the legs. This can happen at night, and disrupt your sleep. 
5. Decreased mobility.
6. Changes in skin color.
7. Swelling. 
8. Weight.

Factor

There are several possible factors a person has sore calf muscle. This relates to a person's habits, health, and lifestyle.

1. Sport and Exercise: If you regularly participate in sport then you are more at risk of calf muscle pain. High-risk sports include football, basketball, and long jump. This exercise exert a lot of stress and pressure on the calf muscles, which can cause injury. 
2. Cold weather: In winter, the air pressure is lower, can cause the tissue around the joints to spread. This expansion puts pressure on the joints that can cause muscle pain. 
3. Strained calf muscle: This is when the calf muscles are more tense than usual. It can be caused by excessive, not be a stretch, or a medical condition. If the calf muscles are tense then more susceptible to injury and pain.

Home Treatment and Prevention of Calf Muscle Pain

Some drugs can do at home to relieve calf muscle pain. There are also preventative methods that you can try.

There are several approaches that should be attempted within 24 hours of experiencing calf pain.

24 hours: This home remedies can be remembered with the word RICE.

1. Rest: as soon as you experience calf pain, you should rest. Try to limit the running and movement within the first 24 hours to avoid causing further damage. 
2. Ice: an ice pack or cold compress other devices to the calf muscles for 15-20 minutes after the injury or onset of pain. This should be repeated every few hours during the first 24 hours. Ice can effectively reduce swelling and bruising. 
3. Compression: Wrap around calf compression bandage to prevent further swelling and relieve pain. The bandage should not be wrapped too tight or too loose. 
4. Elevation (altitude): Rest your ankle slightly higher. It should stay in this position for 24 hours to reduce swelling.

Post-24 hours: This treatment strengthens your calf muscles to get back to a healthy state.

1. Stretching: When the pain has subsided to some extent, began to stretch your calf muscles daily. Stretching should not cause pain, and should be repeated 6 times 3-5 times a day. 
2. Physical therapy: A physical therapist can help you strengthen and heal your calf muscles through exercise. 
3. Take it easy: After injury or calf pain, you do not have to work too hard, as this may cause damage. Try to take things slowly and gradually get to where you are before you experience calf pain.

Prevention methods: There are several things you can do on a regular basis to prevent calf muscle pain.

1. Make sure that you stretch your calf muscles thoroughly before exercising. 
2. Do not force yourself. Be aware of your limits and stay within them. Fatigue is a common cause of calf muscle pain. 
3. Educate yourself on the proper techniques for exercise, sports, and running. This knowledge will help you prevent injury and muscle stress.

Tips

To conclude, we will leave you with two valuable tips to help you prevent calf muscle pain. Remember to stretch your calves. 5-10 minutes of stretching before exercise can help prevent calf pain. You also have to keep hydrated. If you are dehydrated, it can make your muscles more susceptible to strain and injury. important is that you drink plenty of water while exercising.