Why Is There A Tightness Then Burning In My Calf Muscle While Running?

Running is healthy exercise and requires regular muscle contractions from your calves. Several conditions can cause tightness or burning in your calf muscle, including muscle cramp, muscle fatigue or a muscle strain. Consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis of your condition if the tightness and burning in your calf persists or worsens.

Muscle Fatigue

Muscle fatigue is caused by increased energy consumption during muscle contractions. Running can cause acidosis, or a buildup of lactic acid; it can also inhibit energy metabolism and cause a rise in the levels of inorganic phosphate in your calf muscle, the journal "News in Physiological Sciences" notes. What this means is that the chemistry in your calf muscle is changing while you exercise and causing you uncomfortable symptoms, like burning sensations and muscle tightening due to muscle failure --- normal muscle reaction to exercise. This could also be your body's response to exercise following a long period of inactivity, which has left your calf muscle untrained and weak. It is also possible that your muscle is fit, but you are increasing the workload and it is unable to sustain contraction. The byproduct of muscle fatigue can be sore muscles. Sore muscles are painful but your muscle will repair stronger after exercise, given proper recovery time.

Muscle Cramps

A muscle cramp is a sudden painful spasm or contraction of a muscle. It usually happens in leg muscles during exercise. It can be caused by dehydration, exercising in hot weather, holding a muscle in one position for a long time or fatigue; some medications cause muscle cramps. You should be able to remedy the cramp yourself by massaging or stretching the muscle. If you are unable to remedy your cramp and continue your run, you may have an underlying problem such as mineral depletion, nerve compression or inadequate blood supply, MayoClinic.com warns. Call your doctor if your leg cramp occurs often or is severe.

Muscle Strain

We sometimes call a muscle strain a pulled muscle. A muscle strain is damage to a muscle. Initially, you may feel a sharp or burning pain and still be able to use the muscle. As the muscle cools down, however, you may experience swelling, bruising or redness and increased pain. Ice, elevate and rest your calf muscle. Do not stretch a strained muscle. If your home remedies have not helped within 24 hours, call your doctor. If you heard a popping sound with the injury, are unable to use your muscle at all, have significant swelling, pain, fever, or open cuts, go to the emergency room right away.

Prevention

If your calf burning and tightening is muscle fatigue, slow your running pace or alternate walking and running until your calf muscles are stronger. Drink lots of water, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, stay fit and stretch to prevent muscle cramps. If you are running long distances, make sure your heel contacts the ground when you plant your foot. Strengthen your calf muscle by doing heel raises; this can help your muscle sustain the workload to which you are subjecting it. Muscle strain can be avoided by warming up and stretching before you run, and by building up gradually to strenuous paces.