Calf Strain question??
111
Member
1264 days
hakadoru posted 51 weeks ago.
I had scar tissue built up in my soleus muscle (it's what lies underneath the gastrocnemius which most people call the calf) and it was fine while walking, but would tear when I would open up on runs. Felt like someone jabbing an ice pick in the center of my calf.
The reason you don't notice it when you walk is because you are not flexing and extending the calf muscle as much as you do when lengthening your stride as you do in running.
My tissue "issue" was finally resolved by visiting a local Active Release Technique practitioner who broke the adhesions through very intense and excruciating massage and then gave me some stretching movements to do to help the muscle fibers heal without forming new scar tissue.
I've managed to keep everything nice and healthy for the past two seasons by doing the soleus stretch nearly every damn morning. Takes about 30 seconds and keeps things nice and loose and gives me good feedback if things are starting to tighten up.
A good way to tell if its your soleus or gastrocnemius is to try the stretches (WS/FS) here:
http://www.halhigdon.com/15Ktraining/Stretch.htm
Best of luck in getting this resolved!
The Outdoor Journey: Exploring the multisport life through the crucible of endurance
134
Member
514 days
RunMDC posted 51 weeks ago.
+1 to what hakadoru says. I had the exact same thing last year when training for a marathon. It was a combination of improper shoe fit and overtraining. Mine was solved through ART as well. It only took about 5 sessions and I was back on the road.
Since then I have used the TriggerPoint rollers when ever I do a lot of run training and have had no issues.
To emphasize once more ART is one of the most awesome things I ever discovered. I have also used it recently when I had problems with my shoulder. They worked out all the scar tissue and I feel better than I have in years.
124
Member
680 days
diluzio123 posted 51 weeks ago.
+2. I was having some calf issues last year as well. After an extremley painful message and doing the above stretches helped. Stay away from calf raises also.
"To some extent, we are all labeled by what we're able to achieve. But more importantly, we are defined by what we attempt." --Scott Tinley
http://ddtriathlon.blogspot.com/
So I haven't been to a doctor yet, but from what I have been reading it seems like I have a calf strain. I have been focusing on training for a half marathon, so not much cross training going on just a lot of running. I got new shoes about 6 weeks ago, and they are great and have been feeling great in them until about two weeks ago when my calf just really started hurting while wearing them. I thought it could be the shoes (since i switched brands of shoes) but they didn't hurt the previous four weeks. I threw on my old running shoes and the pain went mostly away (testing my shoe theory) but was still there a little bit. Now, i'm pretty sure i am right on this, when I run and ride my tri bike i'm using the calf muscle a good amount correct? when i ride my bike i feel no discomfort and actually feel 100%.. its only when I run. I know this isn't a tear because i can walk just fine and don't limp or anything. It only happens when i run. Anyone else experience anything like this?? any ideas of what to do i would like to start running and training again! haha thank you in advance and sorry for the novel above.