According to the Sports Injury Clinic website, the calf muscles consist of the gastrocnemius and the soleus. The gastrocnemius is a bulky, powerful muscle situated on the posterior aspect of the lower leg. The soleus muscle, which is smaller than the gastrocnemius, lies beneath the gastrocnemius. Causes of calf muscle pain include strains, delayed onset muscle soreness and trauma.
Calf Muscle Strain
A muscle strain involves the partial tearing of small muscle fibers. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center--an academic medical center in New York City--a calf muscle strain can be caused by stretching the calf muscles beyond the normal amount of tension they can handle; sudden, unguarded calf muscle stress; overuse of the calf muscles; and blunt force trauma to the posterior aspect of the lower leg. Common risk factors for calf muscle strains include fatigue, excessive calf muscle tightness, overexertion and cold weather. Playing certain sports, such as running, basketball, football and rugby, may also increase the likelihood of a calf muscle strain. Calf muscle strains cause pain, tenderness, stiffness and weakness in the calf muscles but typically respond well to conservative care.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
The Sports Injury Clinic website says delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a unique type of muscle soreness exercisers or athletes experience several hours after vigorous activity. Although everybody is susceptible to DOMS, including elite athletes, it's frequently seen in those who have participated in intense physical activity after a long period of sedentary living. The calf muscles are a common location for DOMS--especially in runners, downhill hikers or those performing ballistic bounding activities such as plyometrics. It's believed that eccentric muscle contraction--in which the muscle lengthens during contraction--is the principal cause of DOMS. The Sports Injury Clinic website notes that DOMS usually manifests 12 to 48 hours after vigorous exercise, and that the most common symptoms associated with DOMS are muscle aches, muscle tightness and a decreased range of motion in the affected segments or body parts.
Contusions
According to the Natural Health Care website, a contusion--also known as a bruise--is an often painful, trauma-induced soft tissue injury that causes small blood vessels called capillaries to break and leak red blood cells into the affected area. Contusions appear as a reddish-purple patch on the skin's surface that does not blanch when compressed. As the tissue heals and the cellular metabolic byproducts are removed from the injury site, the contusion fades in color. The Sports Injury Clinic website says calf muscle contusions are common in contact sports. The impact associated with calf muscle contusions crushes the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles against the bone, and if proper intervention isn't sought and rendered, a painful condition called myositis ossificans may develop. This involves bone growth within the muscle.
