Muscular Calf Injuries in Runners

Abstract

Calf pain is a common complaint among runners of all ages but is most frequent in masters athletes. This article focuses on injuries to the triceps surae or true 'calf muscles.' The most common calf injury is a tear of the medial gastrocnemius muscle (Tennis Leg) but other structures including the lateral gastrocnemius, plantaris and soleus also may be the cause of muscular pain. This article looks at the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of these injuries. We also highlight some examples of musculoskeletal ultrasound which is a valuable tool for rapid diagnosis of the cause and extent of injury.

Healing Process of Gastrocnemius Muscle Injury on Ultrasonography Using B‐Mode Imaging, Power Doppler Imaging, and Shear Wave Elastography

“…Sixth, we did not consider the differences between ages. We included a large range of age groups because there have been reports that there is no obvious relationship between age and return to play . Moreover, there was no obvious correlation between age and stiffness in a past report .…”

Musculotendinous Disorders in the Lower Leg

“…Soleus strains, particularly those occurring in isolation, are considerably less common than those involving the gastrocnemius (►Figs. [4][5][6]. As described earlier, the soleus crosses only one joint and is composed predominantly of slow twitch muscle fibers.…”

“…Calf muscle injuries are associated with a variety of sporting activities ranging from soccer to running to tennis to skiing. 1,[5][6][7] In assessing the injury profile in players from across the Union of European Football Associations, calf injuries were one of the most commonly encountered muscle injuries. In one study, performed over a 10-year period, calf injuries accounted for 306 of 2,123 lower extremity muscle injuries, surpassed in incidence only by adductor, hamstring, and quadriceps injuries.…”

Muscle Activation During Forehand and Backhand Drives in the Sport Discipline of Tennis

“…In order for the left foot to move left and forwards and then to follow the right foot to the left and front, the walking muscles (flexors of the tibia, thigh, soleus and extensor muscles attached to them, as well as the adductors with the abductors muscles) must cooperate and contract at the same time, reported in detail in the steps of the forehand drive (Fields & Rigby, 2016).…”