Why is My Calf Strain not Healing?

In this video, Maryke discusses the most common reason why calf strains don't want to heal and keep on coming back as soon as you restart your sport.

Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:49 Strength training for a strained calf muscle
00:03:27 Re-introducing running after a calf muscle strain

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[johnny_fiv]

Thank you. So true about runners/athletes that are approaching or over 50 years old. I am 48 and had a calf strain early this year. I took 5 weeks off running replacing with strengthening exercises. It can be frustrating how long it takes to recover. But that being said once you learn patience you will appreciate the body's amazing ability to rebuild itself.

[benjanson]

Great no nonsense explanation. I am guilty of weak calves and doing to much to soon and have paid the price, severe Achilles tendinitis that took 13 weeks to heal at the age of 32

[DanielL]

Brilliant advice; thanks very much; (1) strength training (2) no speed training (3) walk-slow run-walk (4) give it time to heal it properly ... additional tips include (5) don't stretch a torn muscle (6) ice not heat (7) foam roller (8) heel insert in shoe while run-walking ..(9) NSAIDS within reasonable limits. I just injured my left soleus (I think) by getting back into running at age 65 and forgetting that I'm not 55 anymore 🙂 I have a 5 km race in one week 😟PS - after trying everything on you-tube, the one tip that seems to be helping me the most is the run-walk regime; I think you need to gently and cautiously exercise the torn muscle in short increments perhaps whatever is happening, this seems to have helped the most. Maybe it helps with blood flow or overcoming stiffness or something. Good luck my brothers and sisters.

[paulbyrne]

Run /walk did the job for me, took a good while but now back and about to do my first half marathon, aged 59, also do my pre and post stretching with foam rolling thrown in, 👍🏻🏃‍♂️👍🏻🏃‍♂️👍🏻🏃‍♂️

[dextere]

Thank you, your tips really helped. Im a bodybuilder and a runner and having this kind of injury affects both sport. Im currently recovering from what I think is a soleus injury basing on the symptoms. This really frustrates me because it also affects my squats which is one of my favorite exercise. I'm slowly incorporating calf raises about twice a week and I'm able to do a standing single leg holding a 30 kgs dumbell, road walk, and a slow treadmill run (8 kms) pr hour for about 15 mins. Praying and hoping for a quick recovery for us all who injured our calves and others.

[John-wryy]

Best advice ever!!! This makes so much more sense than all the noise you often hear on the internet

[neilwallace]

After suffering repeated soleus strains I’ve finally realised that I’m not as young as I was. What has helped is heel raises with 90 degree bent knee, but with 40kg weight in my knee. I do as many reps as I can before total fatigue, several times per day for more than 8 weeks! Calf raises on a step without big extra weight are next to useless. Also the way you do the exercise is important, I go up quickly but down slowly, occasionally holding at the top for as long as I can tolerate. It’s very hard work, but so far it’s been the only solution after almost 5 years of trouble!

[boxbury]

I think it’s also important to train your calf functionally for the sport or activity you aim to perform. calf raises can be performed but at different speeds on the way up and down. Taking advantage of both the eccentric and concentric loading. A natural progression would be from isometrics to eccentrics but I think a missing piece is the rate/speed at which they are performed. In relation to function, it’s very rare that your calf’s will be activated at only one speed or rate in sports like soccer when performing a sprint or sudden turn as well as during distance running, etc.

[Deckard]

for me its always my right calf, never my left. This is the 3rd year in a row I have been sidelined. so frustrating..

[brooklynbound]

Since we use our calves essentially any time we walk, the volume needs to be much higher to get the calf to overload properly. I found this useful for me along with unilateral weighted raises with a kettle bell. I played soccer for many years and didn’t think I needed to strengthen my calves … boy was I wrong. Thank you for these videos. You have helped me for other nagging running strains.

[almaghrabee]

Ive suffered calf tightness for a year now. Depressing as I can't run. But will take on board this advice.

[bizmonkey]

This is one of the most frustrating injuries I’ve ever had. I’ve been babying my calf for months (exercises, stretches, ice, gradual running) but the damn thing flares up again. I think I’ll be fine and then one wrong step while I’m running and the pain comes back. I’m
relative young, too (mid 30s).

[BJBHAX]

I've been doing everything wrong. Thanks for your time. ❤️

[EMMmaximino]

i appreciate the nuanced detail of muscle fiber recovery, now i understand and will gently be on my way to recovery,

[armandoenriquez]

This was most informative. I injured the lower part of my calf while running (strain/pull/tear). It has been a frustrating 4 weeks. Thanks for the information.

[johncraigeats]

This is by far the best video I’ve watched. I’ve got a recovering grade 2 done at football. It’s been nearly 2 weeks and I’m pretty unsure on what to do. This video really helped. Thanks

[beejj]

Great video. I'm age 55. I've kept a diary on previous recovery and avoided one for four years with stretching, etc. This time, being more sedentary due to lockdown (and a slight strain in my left calf for a couple of weeks) meant it went again when i was jogging on the spot kicking my calf back. Without doubt, the period I went through in 2016 / 2017 was due to coming back too quickly until I learnt my lesson. If I was talking to myself then I would have said: Give two weeks complete break for a mild Grade 1 strain and three weeks for a fairly bad Grade 1 - *no exceptions*! Introduce mild stretching (ensure there is no pain). Then do *half your normal run a couple of times at an even pace* to test. At the sign of any pain... stop, give another week - 10 days break and repeat. Best of luck, all : )

[frankvandegender]

That's an accurate description of my calves, following your suggestions I hope to tackle the recurring strains. Thank you for the basic explanation.

[IanRickardUK]

This is the exact information I've been looking for, thanks!

[davidrenton]

Excellent info I'm 77 and I've just pulled my calf again simply not backing off enough and not getting strong enough in my legs. Thanks