Introduction
The pain in the calf can have different causes and can be variable in its characteristics. Especially a pulling in the calf is often described as one of many complaints in the leg region. Triggers for pulling in the calf are very diverse.
A pulling in the calf at rest can be caused by cramps, which can occur, for example, after a strong physical exertion, such as a long hike, or in the case of a magnesium deficiency. In addition, pulling in the calf can occur in the event of a thrombosis, i.e. vascular occlusion of a leg vein by a blood clot. If the thrombosis is the trigger for the pulling in the calf, attention should be paid to other symptoms such as swelling of the calf, blue-livid discoloration (cyanosis) and overheating of the calf as well as a feeling of heaviness in the affected leg. If thrombosis is suspected because symptoms indicate it and a thrombosis triggering cause has preceded it, such as prolonged, prior immobilization of the leg, a doctor should be consulted so that the thrombosis can be treated as quickly as possible.
Causes
The causes for pulling in the calf are very variable. The origin of the pulling can be of a rather harmless nature, but can also have more serious causes. A harmless cause is for example the classic muscle ache in the calves.
After intensive leg training or general sports activities, small micro lesions in the calf muscles can manifest themselves as sore muscles in the form of pulling pain. As a rule, however, this type of pulling should have subsided after a few days. Footwear can also have an influence on the calf muscles.
Both poor footwear and regular wearing of high shoes can lead to shortening of the muscles. This in turn is accompanied by pulling in the calf. A general poor posture or foot malpositions can also provoke shortening or muscular tension.
Often, however, the reason for pulling is that certain movements in certain sports are simply performed incorrectly and the calf muscles are then inadequately irritated or strained. Calf cramps are also harmless as an acute pulling pain in the calf. In most cases, this is caused by overstraining through hard training with a simultaneous magnesium deficiency.
However, the opposite is also true, namely too little exercise, for example, sitting for long periods at work, can trigger a calf cramp. Typical here is the nightly pulling pain in the calf. If the pulling in the calf is based on muscular tension, the pain character is mostly drilling to pulling and stabbing.
An acute stabbing and pulling pain during sports activities can also be an indication of a pulled calf muscle. This is a classic sports injury with a characteristic stabbing and pulling pain in the corresponding affected muscle group. In addition to the previously harmlessly explained causes, more serious triggers can also be behind the pulling pain in the calf.
These include, for example, diseases such as the circulatory disorder pAVK (=peripheral arterial occlusive disease) or thrombosis. Depending on the character of the pain and its progression over time, a doctor should be able to roughly interpret the pulling in the calf and estimate what and how serious the cause is. Cramps can also trigger a pulling in the calf.
Cramps often occur after heavy physical exertion. A magnesium deficiency can also lead to muscle cramps. Magnesium ensures that the muscle cannot be excited too easily.
If the magnesium is missing, the muscle is overexcitable and cramps occur more easily. A magnesium deficiency can be counteracted by taking magnesium tablets. In addition, a balanced diet, which should include foods containing magnesium such as nuts, vegetables, fruit and seeds, prevents a magnesium deficiency.
