View Single Post
Old 12-28-2007, 09:48 PM   #2
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 954
I've had a few calf strains in my life. Hate 'em. Was the feeling kind of a combination of the sensation a rubber band snapping or popping (which is really the muscle detaching from the tendon, I think), and of being shot in the back of the leg (intense pain makes one immediately stop running)? And you can't raise yourself up on your toes.

About 6 weeks of rest has always worked for me. The muscle just needs time to reattach. I don't think a doctor will be able to do much unless for some reason it won't attach on it's own. I went the last time, because I wanted to prevent the next one. They sent me to PT because my calf muscles are very tight, and we worked on some stretching, flexibility, and strengthening exercises. So far, so good.

Just make sure it isn't a torn achilles tendon, which would need surgery. As long as its really the calf, I wouldn't worry about getting medical attention too much. The trick is to not start running again too quickly. She'll feel fine in about a week, but within 10 steps she'll put yourself right back where she was. I don't know how to tell for sure when you are ready, but I start very, very slowly and stop if I feel any pull. And have her work on calf stretching. Chances are she'll get this again if she changes nothing.

Standard caveat that I'm not a medical professional and this is based on my own experiences and reading.

A wife who runs while golfing...does she have a sister?
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote