Located on the posterior lower leg, the calf is comprised of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The gastrocnemius is the greatest in size of these two muscles and extends from the distal end of the thigh bone to the heel. The soleus is found underneath the gastrocnemius and extends from the top of the shinbone to the heel. Calf pain after exercise is most likely due to injury of the muscle itself but may occur as a result of more serious conditions such as blood clots or rupture of the Achilles tendon.
Causes
There are three possible sources of pain within the calf: the muscles, tendons or blood vessels. Conditions associated with calf pain include gastrocnemius strain, soleus strain, deep vein thrombosis, Achilles tendonitis, Achilles tendon rupture, varicose veins, muscle cramps, delayed onset muscle soreness, popliteal artery entrapment, infection of the skin or muscle, muscle contusion and posterior or lateral compartment syndrome.
What to Do
Treatment of calf pain is dependent upon the cause. Minor injuries to the muscle such as grade one or two strains, delayed onset muscle soreness and contusions can typically be treated at home without the aid of a physician. Treatment of strains involves the "RICE" therapy, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, along with gentle stretching exercises. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen may be taken to relieve pain and reduce inflammation as well.
When to Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor if you experience a popping sensation in your calf, difficulty walking, difficulty standing on your toes, localized redness of the skin, increased warmth of the skin, swelling, pale discoloration of the skin, shortness of breath, chest pain with inhalation, numbness, tingling or visible deformities of the leg. Your doctor will probably inquire about the onset of your pain in order to rule out certain conditions, so try to note when your pain first began.
Prevention
Although it is not possible to prevent all of these conditions, you can reduce your risk of injury to the muscles and tendons through proper warming up and stretching of the muscles prior to exercise. An adequate warm-up consists of light aerobic activity for 10 minutes, for example a light jog or bicycling. Stretching of the gastrocnemius and soleus should be completed after your warm-up. To stretch the gastrocnemius, stand in front of a wall and place both hands on the wall at about arms-length away. Bend your left knee and bring your right leg behind your body. Keep this leg straight and your heel on the ground. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat four times on each leg. The soleus stretch is performed in a similar manner, except the leg behind your body will be held slightly bent instead of straight.
