Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by the doctor relatively quickly after a conversation and a physical examination. To confirm the suspicion, the doctor will palpate the affected muscle for pressure pain and muscle hardness during the examination.Rarely is the whole thing supplemented by an ultrasound examination or magnetic resonance imaging. This is only the case if a rupture of the muscle fibre or similar has to be excluded, which can actually already be done on the basis of the symptoms. Imaging can only detect a rupture or tear of a muscle fiber, but not a pulled muscle, because the pulled muscle does not cause damage to the muscle fibers.
Treatment
The aim of the treatment is to relax the affected muscle again. The therapy should be started as soon as possible after the damage has occurred. It is important that the calf strain is healed as soon as possible before sport is resumed.
Otherwise there is a risk of a rupture of the muscle fibre or a muscle tear. Should a complication occur or symptoms that cannot be classified, a doctor should be consulted for treatment. Cooling measures, such as the use of ice packs or cool packs, are particularly suitable for treatment.
The cold serves to reduce pain and dams the swelling that develops. However, the ice should not be applied directly to the skin, but wrapped with a kitchen towel, for example, to avoid freezing the skin. In addition to ice packs, cooling pain gels or pain creams such as Arnica cream can also be applied to the area.
Anti-inflammatory medications are also used in the event of calf strain. If the pain is too severe, painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or diclofenac can also be used. Ibuprofen and diclofenac also have a useful anti-inflammatory effect.
In addition to cooling the area, a bandage should also be applied around the calf. The bandage should be about ten centimeters wide and should be tied tightly enough to stop the pain, but not so tightly that it stops the blood flow in the leg. The bandage serves to prevent swelling of the affected area.
The bandage should remain on the leg for at least two to three days. If you continue to exercise despite the calf strain, the bandage must be worn during exercise. Raising the affected leg also helps to prevent swelling.
This means that the leg is supplied with less blood, so that the fluid that has entered the tissue as a result of the muscle injury can be removed more easily. If a severe form of calf strain is present, training should be interrupted for a few weeks. For the therapy or the first measures in case of muscle strain, there is a simple memorandum.
This is the so-called PECH rule: rest, ice, compression (pressure) and elevation. These measures should be carried out in any case in the case of calf strain. In addition to these basic measures, an attempt is often made to massage away the tension or hardening of the muscle or to release it by shaking the leg.
However, it is beneficial to do stretching exercises several times a day, about five to ten times a day. During the phase of calf strain, shoes with a good sole should be worn. Running shoes and insoles (preferably cork insoles) below the heel are best suited for this purpose, so that the calf muscles are relieved by raising the shoe.
Walking barefoot should be avoided if possible, as this puts a particular strain on the calf muscles. For aftertreatment, however, heat in the form of heat compresses or massage applications is well suited. Before you start exercising again, you should consult a doctor for safety reasons, who will be able to assess whether this is sensible.
If you have a slight calf strain, you can usually start training again after a few days, but you should not overdo it at the beginning. If you often have calf problems, this can be prevented by the choice of shoes. The shoes should be higher and sturdier, especially in the heel area, and should have a solid heel cap if possible.
In addition to appropriate footwear, you should stretch thoroughly before every sporting activity and thus warm up the muscles, with the stretching exercises being aimed primarily at the calf. This is because muscles that have not been warmed up are more sensitive to high or rapid stress. The warm-up exercises should be controlled and not too fast.Furthermore, sports should be practiced to a healthy extent and overexertion should be avoided. As a preventive measure for people who have often suffered from a pulled calf, physiotherapy can also be useful. However, it is true that it is not possible to safely prevent a calf strain, but only to reduce the risk of it.
