Torn calf muscles, or calf muscle strains, are a common injury of the lower extremity, especially in athletes who perform ballistic maneuvers. According to the Sports Injury Clinic website, calf muscle strains typically involve tearing of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle fibers in the back of the lower leg, and may be painful, involve swelling and bruising and make it difficult to bear weight or ambulate. Most calf strains, however, can be successfully treated using conservative care modalities.
Physical Therapy Modalities
Physical therapy modalities may help speed healing of a torn calf muscle. According to a 2009 article by J. Bryan Dixon published in the journal "Current Reviews of Musculoskeletal Medicine," following successful acute treatment of the injury, physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation may be effective adjunct therapies for calf muscle strains.rnrnThe Sports Injury Clinic website states that ultrasound has been used as a therapeutic modality for soft tissue injuries for the last 50 years, and that ultrasound uses high frequency waves to generate favorable cellular effects in soft tissue. However, current research suggests that therapeutic ultrasound may not be as effective as once believed.rnrnElectrical stimulation, especially transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, may be helpful in reducing calf muscle strain-related pain. TENS is a noninvasive, safe nerve stimulation that blocks pain and improves a patient's quality of life. Dixon notes that physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound and TENS should only be performed 10 days after the calf muscle injury occurred.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy, especially sports massage therapy, is an effective remedy for calf muscle strains that may be initiated after the injury's acute phase. Sports massage therapy that targets an injured calf muscle helps increase circulation to the problematic area, thereby bringing more nutrients to the injured tissue--which speeds healing--and removing deleterious metabolic byproducts that accumulate due to the injury and repair processes. According to the High Blood Pressure Info website, muscle massage, including calf massage, helps sends venous blood back to the heart and lungs for oxygenation, which, in turn, increases the flow of oxygen-rich blood back to the leg tissues to keep the injured tissues from deteriorating. The Mayo Clinic also touts massage as a method to reduce pain, including the pain associated with calf muscle strains.
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, or IASTM, is an effective method for treating calf muscle strains. IASTM is a system of manual therapy that uses tools to diagnose and treat skeletal muscle and connective tissue disorders, including calf muscle strains. Manual medicine practitioners use the tools, which typically vary in size and shape--and which often incorporate a beveled leading edge--to palpate the affected area and reduce any adhesions in the muscles, tendons and connective tissue. The scraping action of the tools stimulates healing at the cellular level and enhances blood flow to the problematic area, which further stimulates the healing process. According to a 2009 study by Scott Howitt, D.C., and colleagues published in the "Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association," the Graston technique, a type of IASTM, along with other soft tissue therapeutic modalities relieved a novice triathlete of his calf strain symptoms and helped him return to his triathlon training routine.
References
- Sports Injury Clinic: Calf Strain
- "Current Reviews of Musculoskeletal Medicine"; Gastrocnemius vs. Soleus Strain; J. Bryan Dixon; June 2009
- Sports Injury Clinic: Ultrasound Therapy
- Sports Injury Clinic: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
- High Blood Pressure Info: How to Improve Blood Circulation Simply and Effectively
