Pulled Calf Muscle (Strain) - Acute Phase

Below you will find advice as to how to deal with this injury – by becoming a member, you can
also access all our video advice.

Remember to have this confirmed by your sports doctor, or sports therapist.

You can diagnose other running injury’s here.

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  • Step 4 - current step

Follow the information and Video advice below

Pulled Calf Muscle (Strain) – Acute Phase

  • A pulled calf is considered acute when you experience sudden acute pain with difficulty rising on your toes or walking. If you can bear weight fairly well, then press here.
  • Ensure you seek advice from your doctor or sports therapist to rule out rupture.
  • Rehabilitation at this stage concentrates on allowing the injury the time and the environment to heal.
  • Perform the ‘IMPORTANT’ video advice below.
  • Perform the ‘ESSENTIAL CHECKS’ videos below, which assess if you need orthotics, how stable your hip muscles are (if they are not, then click here),  if there is a difference in your leg lengths, whether you need new shoes, if your core stability is strong enough (if it isn’t, then click here).
  • Before following the rehabilitation advice, read our treatment precautions here.
  • Use the RICE protocol: Rest. Don’t try to weight bear if you can’t, use crutches to help you partially weight bear. Ice for 20 minutes every hour for the first day and then 3-4 times per day until the swelling goes down. Compress the area using an elastic bandage. Elevate your foot whilst icing and compressing (see videos below).
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen help reduce the pain and inflammation.
  • Acupuncture can help.
  • Once you can bear weight fairly well, you can proceed to STAGE 2 of rehabilitation.

Attention!

If you have a lot of bruising in the back of the knee and the ankle, and you find it difficult to bear weight on the leg, you may have a ruptured muscle. Ensure you seek advice from your doctor or sports therapist.