Muscle pulls are very frequent. In addition, it is common for them to happen suddenly by some movement, even if it is not abrupt, or simply by being in the same posture for a long time and then changing it, among other situations in which they can occur and that also include sports or physical exercise. Whatever the cause, it is a problem that has a solution. However, it is true that it is annoying because it is usually quite painful. And, although they can occur in various parts of the body, the truth is that muscle pulls are more common in the calf.
From, we are going to tell you how to cure a pull in the calf, in addition to explaining the main causes and symptoms and how you can recover your daily activity, after having had a muscle pull
Main causes and symptoms of a pull in the calf
Pulls in the calf usually occur during the practice of a sport or physical exercise, being more common in those sports activities that require pushing quickly with the foot to start running or accelerating as, for example, happens in football.
However, they can also occur by being inactive for a long time or leading a sedentary life and then start walking as part of physical exercise to recover a healthier life, or start doing some type of physical activity or sport. Sometimes, calf pulls also happen because of a change in posture or because you have been in a bad position. Whatever the reason, we can talk about two types of pulls on the calf:
- Acute injury: it is one in which the muscle pull in the calf occurs suddenly.
- Overuse injury: in this case, muscle pull occurs over time, for example, because the muscles have not been well cared for or stretches have not been performed after sports training.
The symptoms can vary depending on the injury or strain, although in general, what is noticeable is a pang of pain, which varies according to the severity, since you can even have difficulty walking and get to notice the discomfort with great intensity.
How to cure a muscle pull in the calf
The treatment to cure the calf pull is the same regardless of whether it is acute or due to excessive use, but as long as it is only a pull and is not accompanied by any other injury or related health problem. And, in more serious cases such as a sprain in the twin or a rupture of fibers, surgery may be necessary. However, for those situations that do not require the passage through the operating room because it is only a pull on the muscles there are simple solutions but that must be applied well. Here are some tips to cure a muscle pull in the calf:
- Rest the affected leg: try not to make efforts for at least two days. If it has been very mild, surely, in a day you will feel better. You don't have to play sports, or even walk a lot, until the pain is completely gone.
- Elevate the leg: it is important that 24 hours after the muscle pull, the leg is kept elevated above the height of the heart to avoid inflammation.
- Put ice: The ice is put wrapped in a towel or cloth in the area for 10 to 20 minutes to lower the inflammation. This process can be repeated up to four times a day for the duration of the injury.
- Bandage: Elastic compression bandages are helpful in relieving and healing calf pull as they prevent further inflammation. It is essential to use the bandage from the soles of the feet to the leg. You also have to be careful that it does not squeeze too much.
- Pain: If you have a lot of pain, you can take some medication, although it is better not to take aspirin or ibuprofen because they interfere with the blood clotting process. This is important for rest and to avoid problems and complications.
How to resume activity after the calf pull
After a pull on the calf, although we notice that we are fine, it is important to return to daily activity little by little, progressively and following a series of additional tips so that the recovery is total. In this way, to resume normal activity after a pull on the twin you have to follow these tips:
- Heat: although it is not good to apply it the first days -it is better to let a minimum of five pass-, then it should be put in the area through electric blankets of dry heat at the moment in which you return to daily activity and, above all, if you practice physical exercise or sport.
- Strengthening: It is key to start strengthening the calf muscles after the rest days. To do this, you must follow exercises that the doctor should recommend, above all, to prevent future health problems in this area and other complications derived. Here you can know some Exercises to strengthen twins at home.
- Elongation: it is also important to work on elongation and muscle elasticity to avoid subsequent pulls and reduce the likelihood of injury. In this case, again, medical or physiotherapist guidelines should be followed.
With these tips on how to cure a pull on the calf, we hope from we have helped you to know what you can do when it happens to you. It is always recommended that you go to the doctor to rule out that it is another type of injury or problem in the calf. In addition, if it is a pull, it can indicate the guidelines and care that you must follow in your recovery.
