how do you heal a gastrocnemius strain?

For serious injuries, like a complete rupture of the tendon or muscle, you'll need more significant treatment. Based on this article, "I like how it explains the reasons why you should do each of the suggested steps. Crutches in the winter are always fun! I will definitely be bringing these along for my race. Compressing the ice against your injury with a compression bandage or elastic support will also help stop the bleeding from the torn muscle fibers and associated inflammation. Wait at least two to three weeks, and make sure you rest it before applying heat. With any exercise regimen, a doctor should always be consulted first, anyway. Compression is great as it works on a number of levels. To learn more about the different grades of calf injuries and how to treat them, read on! You can also take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, like ibuprofen or naproxen, to reduce swelling and ease the pain. Put ice or a cold pack on the sore muscle for 10 to 20 minutes at a time to stop swelling. After holding the stretch for 30 seconds, switch legs. Treatment for a gastrocnemius muscle tear. I tried getting help from my coach, but he just adds more pressure, saying, "you better not let me down, it will be a complete waste of money." He received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2010, followed by a residency at the Oregon Health & Science University and fellowship at the University of California, Davis. Our customers simply love Run Forever Sports Compression Sleeves. Apply heat for 15-30 minutes every 2-3 hours to increase blood flow to the injury. Put a thin cloth between the ice pack and your skin. The muscle’s main roles are to plantar flex the foot (point toes away from yourself ) and to assist in flexing (bending) the knee. This assumes you are dealing with a grade 1 strain. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. ", "Very clear and informative as to different grades of damage.". With Grade II strains, there's limited ability to perform activities, especially jumping and running, so you'll be sidelined for a while (a few weeks or more). Begin with 25 percent to 30 percent of your previous mileage at a relatively slow pace. Post surgery, you'll likely wear a supportive compression boot and have to use crutches over the short term before progressing to physical therapy exercises. To learn more about the different grades of calf injuries and how to treat them, read on! So let's answer all your questions about this topic. X Approved. Progress slowly initially to avoid re-aggravating your calf. But the swelling was all in the calf region and it turned out it was a gastrocnemius tear. A calf strain injury usually occurs the mid leg and/or knee within the muscle belly. For fastest healing, shortest downtime, and least likelihood of a recurring injury work through this protocol with a sports rehab specialists. Margaret Kay has worked as a freelance writer since 2009. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the North Pacific Orthopaedic Society. It also kept swelling until it looked like the injured calf was almost twice the size of the healthy one. But you should not take ibuprofen for 48 hours after your injury as it may slow down healing. It is a bipennate muscle, meaning it has two rows of muscle fibres, facing in opposite directions with a central tendon, resembling a feather. This article has been viewed 1,116,353 times. How can I manage my symptoms? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Treat-a-Torn-Calf-Muscle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-a-Torn-Calf-Muscle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Treat-a-Torn-Calf-Muscle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1252125-v4-728px-Treat-a-Torn-Calf-Muscle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"