Pain in the calf muscle when walking. What to do if you have clogged muscles? Why do calves hurt after a workout

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heaviness in calf muscles and legs is a typical problem for so many people. Neither professional athletes nor ordinary citizens, leading both passive and active lifestyles, are immune from it. What are the main reasons for the formation of such a problem? Is a qualified medical treatment with the regular occurrence of such an unpleasant symptom? You will read about this and much more in our article.

Causes of heaviness in the calf muscles

Modern medicine conditionally divides the causes of the formation of heaviness in the calf muscles and lower limbs into two large groups. The first includes only indirect provoking factors, often acting in a complex manner under certain circumstances. The latter are direct pathologies, diseases or syndromes.

Physiological and external factors:

Taking a number of drugs and substances. The use of individual hormonal drugs, diuretic drugs, other substances can form a feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities in the medium term;
Excess body weight. Overweight people experience increased stress on the lower limbs in general and the calf muscles in particular, which provokes a deterioration in the contractile activity of blood vessels and soft tissues, creating a feeling of heaviness;
Sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary or standing work, with regular long-term static loads, is a fairly significant factor in the formation of the above pathology;
External environment. Sudden changes in temperature, pressure and other environmental parameters can affect the mode of circulation of the systemic blood flow in the body, the functioning of soft tissues and vascular structures lower extremities, which ultimately creates negative prerequisites for excessive tone back muscles shins;
Elderly age. In older people, the elasticity of soft tissues, the flexibility of ligaments, tendons and other elements of the lower extremities are significantly reduced. This almost always leads to the formation of regular heaviness in the legs;
Pregnancy. One of the most common physiological reasons heaviness in the muscles is pregnancy, associated not only with an increase in body weight, but also with hormonal changes in the body.

Pathological factors of severity and clogging in the calf muscles:

Diseases of the spine. Wide spectrum pathological conditions associated with the spine forms the prerequisites for the appearance of cramps and fatigue in the muscles of the calves. The most typical in this regard are osteochondrosis, herniated discs, vegetative-trophic disorders, dystrophic deterioration of tendon reflexes, and so on;
Joint problems. Typical symptoms of joint pathology are pain syndrome, fatigue and spasms in the back muscles of the lower leg, a feeling of stiffness, swelling, aches and heaviness in the legs. The most well-known in the context described above are diseases such as arthrosis, arthritis, congenital or acquired pathologies such as flat feet, high feet, heel spur, other;
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Heaviness in the muscles can be one of the symptoms of serious diseases and syndromes associated with wrong work heart or vascular structures. The best known in this regard are heart defects, cardiomyopathy, myocardial dystrophy, chronic types of venous insufficiency, thrombophlebitis, thromboembolism, varicose veins;
Other problems. In some cases, diseases of the kidneys, liver and other diseases can have a secondary pathological effect on the muscles of the legs. internal organs, from gromeluronephritis, chronic insufficiency to diabetes and a number of autoimmune reactions.

How to relax the calf muscle at home

Modern medicine recommends that if regular heaviness appears in the calf muscles and lower extremities with the development of secondary pathological symptoms, immediately contact a specialized specialist for a comprehensive diagnosis, which includes both laboratory tests and instrumental studies.

This will make it possible to timely, accurately and unambiguously make a final diagnosis, and then prescribe the appropriate therapy. The only exception is in the cases described in the previous section of the possible causes of the development of severity and attributable to physiological or external factors. In the latter case, such problems are irregular, sometimes they form one-time, they do not have medium-term complications and systemic pathological complex symptoms.

Self-massage for heaviness relief and relaxation

One of the most effective methods for rapid first aid with the regular appearance of heaviness in the legs, a complex massage is performed. It should be understood that not every person can carry out appropriate activities with the help of an experienced chiropractor, so you should learn the basic techniques of self-massage and do massage for the calf muscles at home.

Modern practicing manual therapists recommend taking complex measures not only in relation to the gastrocnemius muscle itself, but also to adjacent localizations, in particular, tibial structures, periarticular areas, and so on, which include:

strokes;
Push-ups;
Rubbing;
kneading;
pressure;
Chopping;
Sawing;
pats;
shaking;
Felting and compression.

There are a wide variety of methods for organizing an event. Some of them are designed for a narrow range of use and can be applied to a certain category of the population, such as professional athletes. Others are more general and classic. Consider step by step, how to do self-massage of the calf muscles for an adult:

Massage of the calf muscles for a child

Since children in the vast majority of cases cannot independently and qualitatively massage themselves, the corresponding activities are carried out by parents. The procedure allows you to overcome physiological hypertonicity, activate blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, prevent a number of pathologies in relation to the lower extremities, in particular rickets, valgus, flat feet, and so on.

The main procedures are identical to those for adults, however, they are carried out more gently, with only light superficial movements in the form of stroking and squeezing.

Manual actions are performed mainly with the fingertips, while the popliteal fossa should not be affected, and it is recommended to perform medium and high intensity rubbing, kneading and tingling only in cases where the child is at least a few years old. How to massage the calf muscles yourself, see the video:

Treatment of uncomfortable conditions

The choice of a specific treatment regimen is made exclusively by a specialized specialist based on the relevant final diagnosis, confirmed by laboratory and instrumental methods research.

It should be understood that there are no universal sets of measures in this context.

Since the specific choice of treatment regimen directly depends on pathological cause, which caused regular heaviness in the posterior muscles of the lower leg and other unpleasant symptoms. Within the framework of standard protocols, the following actions are possible:

conservative therapy. In acute and chronic types of diseases, a wide range of medications are used, including painkillers that relieve swelling and inflammatory process, restoring peripheral blood supply, improving the dynamics of healing, and so on;
Operational intervention. It is prescribed for severe types of injuries and extremely acute conditions, in cases of neglected and degenerative dystrophic processes of soft tissues, as well as in case of ineffectiveness of the standard conservative therapy. Necessary surgical manipulations are carried out exclusively according to indications and necessity;
Physiotherapy. After overcoming the most acute period of the pathological process and the start of the positive dynamics of recovery, the relevant specialized specialists are recommended to perform a wide range restorative activities, including exercises within the framework of physiotherapy exercises, massage sessions, as well as instrumental techniques physiotherapy.

In cases where the above problem is not associated with any disease, pathology or syndrome, then in most cases it is enough to eliminate external cause, causing fatigue of the posterior muscles of the lower leg, lifestyle correction, including diet, dynamic distribution of physical activity, and so on.

The main preventive measures include:

Reception of vitamin and mineral complexes and microelements;
Regular moderate physical exercise with dynamic distribution of loads and the exclusion of static overloads on the lower limbs;
Rejection of bad habits;
Proper nutrition;
Regular visit preventive examinations for the purpose of early detection of potential pathologies;
Periodic self-massage sessions and other activities as needed.

Why do muscles get clogged when running and walking?

There are a number of reasons why muscles get clogged (tired) and spasm fairly quickly during physical activity. Most typical causes, in which the calf muscles are clogged when running and walking:

Incorrect walking and running technique. During the performance of the above types of physical activity, the lower limbs are significantly strained, do not receive enough nutrients in the short term, the tissues accumulate lactic acid and create prerequisites for the formation of fatigue. With incorrect running and walking technique (jagged rhythm, too long acceleration or deceleration, incorrect support setting, and so on), the corresponding soft structures “clog” very quickly, which in some cases hinder the further training process;
Poor quality shoes. A negative contribution is also made by the lack of special shoes that are comfortable enough and adapted for walking and running for a long period of time;

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Bad track. Walking and running preferably on a flat surface. If sports events are carried out on bumps and bumps, and the coverage does not meet the standards, then the risks of rapid clogging of the calf muscles already at the first stage of the training process increase significantly;
Excess weight. In people with overweight, even with the observance of the training technique, the choice of the right shoes and the route, the muscles experience increased stress and “clog” faster. In this case, it is worth temporarily reducing the intensity of the loads and replacing part of the running activities with walking;
Drinking mode. Modern professional athletes know that during long-term monotonous physical activity in the form of walking or running, it is desirable to regularly consume liquid in a small amount throughout the lesson. Dehydration can be one of the reasons for the rapid formation of muscle spasm and other unpleasant phenomena, often even dangerous to health.

What to do if the calf muscles are clogged

In the process of walking or running, it is necessary to correct the technique for performing the event, balance the rhythm of the procedure, if necessary, drink water in small sips, and also choose the most comfortable pace for yourself, the place for training. Immediately after running and walking, if the calf muscles are clogged, To alleviate discomfort, do the following:

Take a warm shower;
Lie in horizontal position and raise your legs above your head for 15 minutes;
Relax as much as possible to do a light foot massage.

Is it any wonder that your calves hurt if the day before you finally got out on a ski trip or danced with rapture all night in high heels? Unaccustomed to such loads, the legs indignantly reproach in the morning with painful sensations and resolutely refuse to obey.

However, calf pain can come on suddenly and without apparent reason, bother for a long time or be accompanied by additional unpleasant symptoms. And this is already a signal of trouble, to which it is necessary to turn the most close attention.

Calves hurt - causes

The variety of reasons why the calves of the legs hurt does not allow even an experienced doctor to make a diagnosis during the examination. Only additional methods surveys may confirm his assumptions. Excessive activity or unnoticed injury, vascular problems or spinal disorders - the nature of the pain and the accompanying symptoms will tell you what could have caused the trouble. Let's consider some of them.

1. Myositis - inflammation of the calf muscles

The disease can be the result of a flu, injury, hypothermia, or too much stress. Initially, the pain is aching, not sharp, felt only when feeling and walking. However, it gradually intensifies and annoys even at rest. If myositis has developed against the background of an injury, an infection may be attached and the disease turns into a purulent form. In this case, in addition to local hyperthermia, general hyperthermia develops, with fever and signs of intoxication of the body.

2. Neuralgia

Attacks last from a few seconds to 2-5 minutes, in the intervals between them the pain is completely absent. Soreness is felt along the peripheral nerve fibers, it disappears as suddenly as it began.

3. Varicose veins

The calves of the legs hurt in a special way when the outflow is disturbed venous blood. Long stay in one position - standing or sitting - leads to stagnation of blood, due to which the nerve endings become inflamed. Dull aching pain and a feeling of heaviness in the legs is characteristic of a gradually developing varicose veins. Unpleasant sensations are associated with an increase in pressure in the vessels. The appearance of cramps in the calf muscles and bluish veins is a confirmation of the development of the disease.

4. Thrombophlebitis

An extremely dangerous consequence of varicose veins is the formation of a blood clot in a vein, thrombophlebitis. With this disease, the calves of the legs almost constantly hurt - at first the pain is throbbing, later burning. If the process affects only superficial veins, the skin above them is reddened and painfully thickened. Involvement of deep - manifested by significant swelling of the lower leg. Inflammation is dangerous with the risk of a blood clot breaking off, which threatens with unpredictable consequences.

5. Atherosclerosis of the arteries

Uncomfortable feeling of constriction, calves of the legs hurt and even in summer icy feet - such complaints are typical for those suffering from atherosclerosis. The reason is the thickening of the walls of blood vessels. Pain is aggravated by walking.

6. Diseases of the spine

Various disc pathologies, inflammatory process sciatic nerve(sciatica) or its infringement, cause pain that radiates to the calf muscles. At the same time, the spine itself does not bother.

7. Endarteritis - inflammation of arterial vessels

The calves of the legs hurt, weakness is felt in them when walking - this symptom is called "intermittent claudication". It is often accompanied by seizures and is a sign of inflammatory vascular disease.

8. Micronutrient deficiency

The lack of certain elements often causes calves to hurt, and cramps often occur. This is especially true for future mothers, because they actively feed the baby with their own reserves. Yes, and not everything is in order with the weight, it has increased significantly due to the presence of the baby. Usually there is a lack of calcium or potassium, or several trace elements at the same time. This contributes to the appearance of night cramps and pain in the calf muscles. The nutrition of a pregnant woman should be balanced, but calcium supplements should not be prescribed to yourself, it is better to consult a doctor.

The occurrence of muscle pain in the calves is quite serious symptom requiring expert advice. They can be a phlebologist, an infectious disease specialist, a traumatologist, an angiosurgeon or a neurologist.

Sore calves - diagnosis

Diagnosis of pathology, in which the calves of the legs hurt, includes clinical and instrumental studies. First of all, the doctor tries to exclude causes that are life-threatening - thrombophlebitis, arterial obstruction, thrombosis, cancer and various infections. thrombophlebitis and varicose veins veins are not difficult to determine - ultrasound dopplerography determines whether there are obstructions to blood flow, and transillumination shines through superficial veins and unmistakably indicates damaged. Ultrasonic duplex angioscanning detects a thrombus, assesses its nature and "age", tells about the state of the lumen of the veins.

If it is suspected that the calves of the legs hurt because of the spine, the doctor makes an x-ray of the spine, hip joint and pelvic-sacral joints in several projections. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging help to make a diagnosis. A deficiency of microelements reliably allows you to determine a blood test, and myositis is accurately diagnosed by a neuropathologist.

Which doctor to contact when the calves of the legs hurt, you can try to determine yourself:

- the pain becomes weaker when the legs are raised - problems with the veins;

- tingling and numbness indicate problems with the spine;

- the pain gradually lets go when lowering the legs down - the arteries are to blame;

- frequent convulsions - lack of iron, calcium or magnesium in the body.

Sore calves - treatment

If the reason why the calves of the legs hurt is established, the doctor prescribes a conservative or surgical treatment:

- acute arterial insufficiency- need urgent surgical intervention;

- deep vein thrombosis - inpatient treatment;

- prolapse of intervertebral discs and tumors of the spine - surgery is indicated;

- varicose veins - the use of special ointments and gels, drug treatment, use laser coagulation and sclerotherapy, phlebectomy.

However, the appointment of the necessary treatment is the prerogative of physicians. Regardless of why the calves of the legs hurt, doctors give general advice on alleviating the patient's condition and preventing the development of the disease:

2. Complete nutrition with salt restriction.

3. Compliance with the regimen, sufficient sleep, unhurried walks.

4. Ruthless struggle with excess weight.

5. Therapeutic gymnastics and contrast shower.

6. Rest with legs slightly raised, you can put a pillow or a comfortable cushion.

The calves of the legs hurt - treatment with folk remedies

Not all diseases allow the use of folk remedies. Thrombosis, for example, requires immediate medical attention. However, sometimes it will not be superfluous to use grandmother's secrets, especially in initial stage disease and for prevention.

1. When the calves of the legs hurt from long standing and a feeling of heaviness appears, remove discomfort foot baths will help. To prepare them, a handful of mint and lime blossom pour 1 liter of boiling water. After half an hour, pour the infusion into a bowl of water and hold your feet in it for about fifteen minutes. This will perfectly relieve fatigue, a feeling of heaviness and will serve as a prevention of the occurrence of varicose veins.

2. An infusion of plantain, nettle and coltsfoot helps from the feeling of fullness and heaviness. For 3 liters of boiling water, you need 4 tablespoons of herbal mixture. Keep the legs in the infusion for 15-20 minutes.

3. The calves of the legs do not hurt and swelling disappears after applying ice wrapped in a cloth to sore spots.

4. Quickly relieve pain in the calf muscles of the bath with the addition of a decoction of pine needles. One hundred grams of healing needles pour a liter cold water, bring to a boil and hold in a water bath for half an hour. After pouring into a basin of water, allow the sore legs to relax in the solution for about fifteen minutes.

5. If the muscles of the legs hurt during spasms or after injuries, a mixture of aloe with various oils sold in a pharmacy helps a lot. Take clove, menthol, eucalyptus and camphor oil, mix with an equal amount of aloe juice. Twice a day, the mixture is gently rubbed into diseased calves and covered with a woolen cloth. The duration of the procedure is not limited.

Sore calves - prevention

Some preventive measures not only help prevent dangerous diseases, but also greatly alleviate the patient's condition, stop the development of the disease.

- for normal blood circulation in the legs, it is good to do contrast foot baths, they also help with frequent convulsions;

- shoes should be as comfortable and of high quality as possible, you should not get carried away too much high heels;

- vascular, muscular and articular systems react extremely painfully to overweight;

- good nutrition, a diet rich in protein foods with salt restriction, a sufficient amount of fluid consumed are an excellent prevention of a convulsive symptom;

- complete parting with cigarettes and alcohol, exclusion from the diet of too fatty foods;

- daily gymnastics, reasonable alternation of loads and rest;

- usage compression stockings and stockings, it is better to refuse to wear ordinary ones that are too tight;

- worry about the presence of vitamin E in the diet, on which the tone depends vascular wall;

Calm walking, swimming and running are excellent helpers in the prevention of pain in the calves.

It is extremely important to understand that the calves of the legs hurt for a reason, they try to give a signal about the presence of possible malfunctions in the body. No need to try to find suitable remedy in home first aid kit or ask Aunt Tanya from the fifth floor for advice. Not worth using folk remedies until the doctor makes a diagnosis.

If your calves are constantly hurting, put aside everything and consult a specialist. If severe pain occurs suddenly, and you are diagnosed with endarteritis, call an ambulance immediately, a blockage of the artery is possible.

In the anatomical structure of the human body, the calf muscle is located on rear surface shins. It has a two-headed shape, connected to the heel by the Achilles tendon. This muscle is the first performs the function of flexion and extension of the leg in ankle joint , and is also responsible for the stability of the body in vertical position when walking or running.

Pain in the calf muscle may occur. It can be both excessive physical activity, and her infectious lesions, impacts and injuries of the lower leg.

Different types of muscle problems will be characterized by their own symptoms by which they can be diagnosed. Let's consider the main ones.

Cramps in the calf muscles

Description of the problem
Cramping in the calf muscle is a fairly common problem in different categories of patients. They are caused by a significant and prolonged reduction in it accompanied by severe pain.
The nature of the pain
During an attack, the calf muscle hurts quite strongly. The patient is almost completely immobilized. The entire foot may also be involved in the cramp. The pain is sharp, piercing, very strong. The duration of the spasm can be different - from a few seconds to several minutes.

Ask your question to a neurologist for free

Irina Martynova. Graduated from the Voronezh State medical University them. N.N. Burdenko. Clinical intern and neurologist of BUZ VO \"Moscow Polyclinic\".

The muscle is tense, its full tone is felt through the skin.

Causes
Pain and cramps in the calves can occur for many reasons of various origins:

neurological disorders. They can be associated both with problems of brain activity, and with physical pinching of the nerve in the lower leg area.
Accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle. With excessive physical exertion, the resulting substance accumulates in excess, including in the calves, and can provoke the onset of seizures in them.
Imbalance of potassium, calcium and magnesium. This condition is especially common in women during pregnancy.
Hypoxia. Lack of oxygen in the body can cause cramps, including in the lower leg.
Injuries to the leg can damage the nerve endings located in it and cause seizures.

Treatment
If you experience these symptoms, be sure to consult your doctor. You can initially contact a therapist who will prescribe an appropriate examination and refer you to a specialist.

Since cramps and pain in the calves can occur for various reasons, self-medication is inappropriate here. For the correct relief of these symptoms, it is imperative to establish their true cause.

According to the results of the tests and in accordance with the patient's history, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate therapy. This can be the intake of vitamin and mineral complexes, and massage to relieve excessive tension in the muscle during exercise.

Expert opinion

Astafiev Igor Valentinovich

Neurologist - City Pokrovskaya Hospital. Education: Volgograd State Medical University, Volgograd. Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after A.I. HM. Berbekova, Nalchik.

With neurological symptoms, a neurologist will prescribe corrective treatment to the patient. For injuries, physiotherapy and pain medication may be indicated.

Problem lying on the verge of physiology and psychiatry. This does not mean that patients with a similar diagnosis have any pathologies and should be observed by a psychiatrist. But, as a rule, such a diagnosis is made with a comprehensive examination of the patient and the impossibility of finding any other reasons why his calves hurt.
What is the disease?
Fibromyalgia patients complain of bad feeling, to the pain in various parts body, including the calves.

It, as a rule, is symmetrical, that is, it manifests itself in both legs at once.

What is the pain of fibromyalgia?
Pain in the calves with this disease can be different - from pulling and aching to sharp and spasmodic. In some cases, there are even convulsions of varying duration. Additionally, there may be a feeling of numbness in the affected area, tingling, morning stiffness. Patients with a similar diagnosis are often meteorologically dependent, they quickly get tired, they have a breakdown and jumps in body temperature are possible, as a result of the development of depression and neuroses.
Why does the disease occur?
Scientists and doctors have not yet found the exact causes of this syndrome. The following hypotheses are put forward:

genetic predisposition. In studies, a high frequency of diagnosing fibromyalgia in relatives has been noticed.
Vascular pathology. Similar symptoms are attributed to insufficient blood supply to the affected areas of the body.
Severe stress can trigger the mechanism for the development of the disease.
Increased rate of serotonin metabolism. In patients receiving appropriate treatment, the manifestations of muscle pain subsided.
Growth hormone deficiency. Such conditions are more often observed in patients precisely during significant physical exertion on the legs and during the period of active growth of the musculoskeletal system.
Mercury poisoning.
Violation of the deep sleep phase.
Trauma and severe damage to the calf muscles.

What to treat?
This diagnosis is made with the exclusion of any other possible causes of pain in the legs. The disease is considered chronic, only a partial improvement in the patient's condition is possible. For this, appoint:

taking antidepressants;
antiepileptic drugs - showed good results of treatment;
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief;
replacement and complementary hormone therapy (if necessary).

Non-drug treatment:

shallow massage, with deep there is an increase in seizures;
psychotherapy;
physiotherapy and gymnastics;
easy swimming in warm water;
observance of the regime of the day, sleep and wakefulness.

A similar diagnosis is made by an orthopedic doctor and a neurologist during a joint examination.

Osteomyelitis

disease associated with infection bone tissue and the occurrence of an inflammatory process in it, in bone marrow and adjacent soft tissues.
How to determine?
The patient has redness, burning and swelling in the shin area. The temperature of the affected area of the body is increased. are felt pain in the calf muscle.

Expert opinion

Mitrukhanov Eduard Petrovich

Doctor - neurologist, city polyclinic, Moscow. Education: Russian State Medical University, GBOU DPO Russian medical Academy postgraduate education Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Volgograd State Medical University, Volgograd.

From the first days of the disease, corresponding changes in the blood test are noted.

Description of pain
In the acute stages of the disease, there is severe pain in the calf muscle. It constrains the patient's movements, causing severe discomfort. It is characterized by its duration and poor relief by painkillers.

In the chronic form of the disease, pain is observed periodic, dull, pulling, mainly during periods of exacerbations.
Causes
Osteomyelitis can occur in several cases:

infection directly into the bone tissue of the gastrocnemius muscle (injuries, fractures);
penetration of pathogenic flora into other bone elements and its spread with the bloodstream (tooth treatment, fracture of another bone, installation of an internal prosthesis).

Methods of therapy
The disease is treated by an orthopedist or surgeon only in a hospital setting. Antibacterial therapy is indicated to relieve the inflammatory process. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain. To prevent further spread of infection in the body, transfusions of blood plasma and its elements are prescribed.

After removing the acute inflammatory process, the patient is shown physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises and a pool, massages. These procedures restore lost mobility and contractility of the calf muscle.

Diseases of the peripheral nerves

Also in these diseases possible pain in the calf muscle, which will increase with walking and any movement.
What is characteristic of the disease?
When the nerve trunks located in the lower leg are damaged, pain occurs.

The nerve can be pinched by an overly spasmodic muscle or affected by an infection.

What pains?
As a rule, in such cases, the pain is sharp, sharp, shooting and stabbing. It is greatly enhanced by movement, when trying to stand up and walk.
What is called?
Nerve endings in such cases can be injured when the calf is struck or its other physical deformations.

Inflammation in the trunks of nerves can occur from hypothermia of the limbs, their prolonged immobilization.

With excessive overwork of the calf muscle, its prolonged spasm may occur with infringement of the nerve fibers.

What to treat?
Such diseases are treated by a neurologist. According to the symptoms, drugs that relieve pain (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may be prescribed. In inflammatory processes, antibiotic therapy is indicated. If the nerve is pinched, medicines that relax the muscles in the body can help.

Physiotherapy, massage and swimming pool are well suited as restorative procedures.

Diseases of the spine

Pathologies of the spine can also be the reasons why the calf hurts on the leg.
Description of diseases
The main lesions of the spine that can lead to pain in the calf muscle are and intervertebral hernia. They cause deformation of the entire human skeleton, pinch the nerve endings both in the spinal column and on the periphery. Diseases also cause severe pain in the lower back, often immobilizing the patient.
How does the caviar hurt?
Diseases are characterized by sharp shooting pains that radiate throughout the leg when the nerves are pinched. The aching nature of pain is characteristic of osteochondrosis lesions.
Causes of diseases
Osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia often develop in people with the following history:

significant curvature of the spine;
lack of calcium, vitamins D and K, other important trace elements;
injury spinal column in the past;
hormonal imbalance leading to a decrease in the amount of calcium in the bones.

How to treat such pain?
Therapy is prescribed after a complete examination by an orthopedist, surgeon and neurologist. In the acute stages of the process, therapy is indicated to eliminate the pain syndrome (blockade of the sciatic nerve, the introduction of drugs that relieve the inflammatory process - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics).

Treatment is carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist.

In the form of maintenance therapy, the patient is shown massage courses every six months, a mild load on the spine (swimming), and a sparing mode of movement.

Myositis

The inflammatory process in skeletal muscles person. Allocate its acute and chronic forms.
How to recognize?
The disease is characterized by damage to the calf muscle itself. It may be called different reasons and have a different course.
The nature of pain in myositis
At rest, the pain is dull, aching. It is greatly enhanced by movement of the foot or by palpation of the affected area. Muscle spasm often occurs as a protective reaction to limit joint mobility. The skin on the diseased calf is red, the venous pattern is pronounced.

With a long course, myositis can become chronic and lead to muscle atrophy.

How does it arise?
Reasons for this disease there may be several:

infectious tissue damage;
calf muscle injury;
excessive physical activity;
hypothermia of calves;
processes of intoxication in the body, infection with worms;
heredity.

Methods for the treatment of myositis
First of all, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. These can be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics in the form of tablets, injections or topical ointments and gels.

After relief of acute manifestations, physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy and massage courses are indicated to restore muscle contractility.

Thrombophlebitis

Pain in the calf muscle can also be caused by such a reason as thrombophlebitis. it inflammation of the walls of blood vessels, blockage of large and small venous ducts blood clots.
Description of the disease

The most common in medical practice is thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. The walls of the veins become inflamed and pass blood to a lesser extent. Because of this, it accumulates in the calf muscles, causing pain. The disease is dangerous by the formation of blood clots. If a clot will come off and go higher with blood flow, it can clog vital arteries and cause instant death in a person.
What is the pain with thrombophlebitis?
With this disease, pain in the calf is pulling, aching. The place of inflammation turns red, the body temperature may rise.

There are slight swelling in the legs, there is a feeling of heaviness.

Causes of thrombophlebitis
The following factors most often lead to the disease:

varicose disease;
hereditary factor;
excessive fatigue of the legs;
injury to the walls of blood vessels in the calf muscle.

How to treat?
The surgeon prescribes complex therapy, including:

the imposition of semi-alcoholic cold compresses on the site of the lesion;
application of anti-inflammatory ointments (with superficial thrombophlebitis);
drugs that relieve pain - and analgesics;
drugs that improve blood circulation through the vessels;
to relieve swelling - antihistamines.

In some cases, with the threat of a blood clot, an emergency surgical intervention is prescribed. Treatment is carried out in a hospital.

Atherosclerosis

The calf muscle can hurt if the patient has atherosclerosis.
How is it manifested?

This disease is one of the five most common in the XX century. Its symptoms are found in half of the examined patients older than forty years. In the walls of blood vessels, excess fats begin to be deposited. This narrows them, reduces blood flow, nutrition of cells and organs. Thrombi begin to form on the affected walls. In severe cases, the disease leads to myocardial infarction, stroke.
The nature of pain in atherosclerosis
In the limbs, numbness, tingling, heaviness can be observed. They seem to be constantly cold.

Causes of the disease
The cause of this disease is an unhealthy lifestyle. Eating a large amount of fat, a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work - all this leads to the development of atherosclerosis. Additional risk factors include hereditary predisposition and metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland etc.).
Treatment of atherosclerosis
Treatment is carried out by a general practitioner or cardiologist, depending on the accompanying symptoms diseases.

Drugs are prescribed that improve blood circulation, thin it, and prevent the formation of blood clots.

Anti-inflammatory ointments and gels are applied to the affected area of the caviar.

overvoltage

If you do not have the listed diseases, but the pain in the calf muscle still appeared, you may have overstretched this muscle.
How do symptoms appear?
You feel heaviness in your legs, they are heavy and tired. When moving, pain occurs.
What is the pain with overexertion of the calf muscle?
Pain - pulling, pressing, aggravated by sudden movements and walking.
Causes of stress pain
The reason for this condition is an increased content of lactic acid, which has accumulated in the muscle due to its increased work. After it is excreted by the body, the discomfort in the calf will pass.

To restore the previous mobility, rest and rest are shown.

Pain in the calf associated with certain conditions of the body

They arise under certain temporary conditions and pass by themselves when the cause is eliminated.

Such, for example, will be pain in the legs of a pregnant woman. They can occur due to the increased load on them when walking, due to a lack of calcium and magnesium. May be accompanied by convulsions.

When wearing the wrong shoes and overstraining the muscles, some patients experience night pain in the legs. It will pass with a change of shoes and a gentle mode of movement for the legs.

In what cases should you immediately consult a doctor?

In some conditions, you must immediately call an ambulance or visit a doctor:

you have a sharp, sharp pain in the calf, the leg is very swollen and darkened, muscle tone is significantly increased;
pain in the legs began to be chronic, and not to appear rarely, from time to time;
it is impossible to stand up, the pain is sharp, shooting into the back.

All this may indicate conditions that require immediate medical attention.

How to relieve pain at home before visiting the doctor?

We have found that there can be many reasons why the calf muscles hurt. If suddenly you feel pain in your leg, muscle spasm, there are proven remedies to help relieve this condition.

These include:

taking painkillers at an age dosage (Nise, Ketonal, Ketorol, Ketanov, etc.);
application of painkillers and ointments to the affected area of the body (Nise, Diclofenac, etc.);
local anti-inflammatory therapy (Vishnevsky ointment, Viprosal, Heparin ointment, etc.);
applying cold semi-alcoholic compresses to the affected area of the calf.

Treatment at home is acceptable only if you know exactly the cause of the pain in the calf and the pain is not acute.

So that your legs do not hurt, always be light and beautiful, observe simple rules prevention:

do not drink alcohol;
reduce your intake of sugar, caffeine and fatty foods;
move more on fresh air, go in for a gentle sport;
lead an active lifestyle, watch your weight.

memo

Pain in the calf muscle can have a different character, which depends on its cause.
Seizures. Strong, sharp, penetrating pain, muscle hypertonicity, duration - from a few seconds to minutes.
Fibromyalgia. Pain different nature, may be bilateral, feeling unwell, tingling, itching, numbness may be observed.
Osteomyelitis. acute pain, redness, burning, swelling, fever, inflammatory reaction in general analysis blood.
Diseases of the peripheral nerves. The pain is sharp, sharp, shooting, stabbing. Increases with movement.
Diseases of the spine. Aching pains, attacks of shooting pain, numbness, tingling.
Myositis. The pain is dull and aching, decreased muscle tone, redness, muscle atrophy.
Thrombophlebitis. The pain is pulling, aching, along the vessels. Visually - enhanced pattern of blood vessels, swollen veins, nodes. The place of the thrombus turns red, swells.
Atherosclerosis. Pain pulling or aching, appear after prolonged exercise, chilliness, numbness, heaviness, tingling.
Overvoltage. Pain pulling and pressing, heaviness in the legs, occur after excessive stress on the muscles.
Other reasons: pregnancy, lack of magnesium and calcium, wearing the wrong shoes.
A doctor should be consulted if the pain has become chronic, the pain is sharp and sharp, unbearable, accompanied by darkening of the leg, or additional symptoms are present.
Before seeing a doctor to relieve pain, you can take painkillers (Nurofen, Ketonal) or treat the sore spot with an ointment or gel (Nise, Dolgit, Diclofenac).

Greetings, dear readers! Today I want to discuss such a frequent occurrence as clogged muscles. Many gym goers experience this. Someone thinks that this is how it should be and what it is. Others are afraid and try in every possible way to avoid being downtrodden.

More recently, a friend of mine who recently started working out with iron complained that the next day after a workout, he felt muscle clogging. This prompted me to write an article, because for sure he is not the only one who raises questions about this phenomenon.

Let's understand the mechanisms that occur in our muscles during and after training.

When we lift weights, our muscle fibers begin to contract. This process requires energy. The main energy source for muscles is ATP (adenosine triphosphoric acid), which in turn can be synthesized in several ways. But during strength training, we tend to use up muscle glycogen. From which ATP is formed during the reaction of anaerobic glycolysis.

But each medal has a reverse side, as a result of the above chemical reaction, a by-product is formed - lactic acid (lactate). It is the culprit of muscle fatigue during training. Fortunately, the body copes with its concentration in muscle tissue quickly. And as soon as we rest after the approach for 1-2 minutes, we are ready for the next approach.

But this process is not endless. The fact is that the blood circulating in the muscle removes lactic acid, but this takes more than 30 minutes. And we rest only 2, respectively, lactate slowly accumulates and our performance decreases.

Usually rocking enthusiasts get so carried away that by the end of the workout they are already barely dragging their feet. And the next day they cannot get out of bed and even brush their teeth corny, because their hands do not rise. Is it all due to lactic acid?

Causes of muscular crepitus

No, the reason here is no longer lactic acid. She safely left the muscles 30-60 minutes after the workout. In post-workout pains, microtraumas of muscle fibers received due to excessive load are involved. Because someone does not know the measure. But most often, krepatura, she is pain in the muscles,. Since their muscles are not yet adapted to the load and receive many microtraumas, which lead to severe krepatura.

Slight muscle stiffness is not dangerous and usually ends after a recovery period. With the growth of your fitness, pain after exercise may stop appearing altogether.

How to clearly understand that your muscles are clogged? First of all, this is expressed in some swelling of the muscle, it looks swollen. After all, it rushes to the place of damage rich in proteins tissue fluid and lymph. Movements become more constrained due to the fact that the tension of the muscle group is accompanied by pain.

It happens that krepatura is pronounced and does not go away for a long time. What can this mean?

You train too hard

Perhaps you overdid it in training. Scientists have found that pain mainly occurs with eccentric muscle contraction. That is, when the muscle lengthens, but at the same time is in tension (an example from life is the descent from the stairs). Therefore, negative repetitions contribute most to muscle damage. For those who do not know, a negative movement is a phase in which the muscle is stretched, for example, lowering the barbell when lifting the biceps.

Not recovering

Small muscle groups such as arms or shoulders require 2-3 days to recover. And large ones - legs, back, chest - from 3 to 7 days. If you train them more often, then the likelihood of overtraining is high. In simple words, the muscles will simply become clogged and will not be able to work at full strength. Working weights will fall or stand still.

Stretching is neglected

You neglect stretching. The fact is that after removing the load from the working muscle, residual deformations can be observed in it. That is, the muscle tissue does not relax completely. If this fact is left unattended, then over time it can lead to muscle spasms, cramps and a constant feeling of congestion.

Asymmetric muscle development

Despite the fact that we seem to be symmetrical about the sagittal plane (the vertical plane of human symmetry), nevertheless, our muscles on one side and the other may not develop in the same way. There are many reasons: lefties left hand will be more developed, for those who are used to relying on right leg it will be stronger than the left.

Sometimes this can lead to the fact that the muscle clogs on one side. This kind of clogging occurs during exercise. For example, when you do dumbbell curls for biceps, while one hand can still lift the dumbbell, while the other is no longer able to do it. Or one more prime example- bench press - when a person squeezes one side faster than the other.

daily activities

Muscle tightness is not always associated with training. The back, neck, and calves can get tired whether we exercise or not. This is due to their functions in our Everyday life. The neck, back and, in particular, the lower back stabilize the position of the head and spine and are especially heavily loaded when we sit for a long time, especially in wrong postures.

The calves maintain balance when walking and are responsible for pushing the foot when moving. Them constant pressure, especially static, leads to negative consequences. In the muscles, blood flow worsens and this leads to a lack of nutrients in them and spasms.

If you feel any symptoms of krepatura, then carefully look to see if you fall under one of the above points.

How to deal with krepatura?

How to deal with muscle congestion? You are unlikely to find a universal recipe, and if krepatura has already arisen, then it will not work to get rid of it. But you can alleviate your suffering and speed up the process of muscle recovery. Here are some tips for you.

A thorough warm-up before training is above all. If you do not prepare the body for the load, then the likelihood of krepatura increases. For example, before you squat, do not forget to stretch the muscles involved in the exercise well - the hips and buttocks.
Stretching is one of the most effective ways. But stretching the muscles is not necessary the next day after training, when they are already sore. Although this is also welcome. It is much more important to do stretching immediately after training. Or even between sets. It is not necessary to stretch all the muscles, it is enough to do a couple of exercises for the working group
Temperature effect. It can be both baths with water of variable temperature, and a sauna or bath. Elevated temperature Helps both relax tired muscles and improve blood flow
Massage. Mechanical impact on tired areas of the muscles leads to an improvement in blood and lymph flow, normalizes muscle tone and promotes the excretion of metabolites (metabolic products). During massage, you can use various ointments that help warm up the skin, improve microcirculation, relieve swelling and prevent irritation of the skin.
Reload. What to do if the muscles hurt from the load? That's right, load them again. Sounds crazy, but it might work. Of course, we are not talking about the load that led to pain. As a re-impact, you can use cardio simulators when it comes to legs. For the upper body, you can use the same exercises, but with a weight 2-3 times less. And the goal will no longer be to score muscles, but simply to stimulate blood circulation.

All of the above methods are best used in a complex way, so you will achieve. But from now on, I advise you, instead of thinking how to fix the krepatura that has arisen, to prevent its occurrence. It is not at all necessary to score muscles in training. After all, it has already been scientifically and experimentally proven that pain is not a sign of muscle growth!

Well, iron fans, I hope the article was useful for you. Leave your comments and questions. I will be happy to answer them!

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Pain in the calf muscles cannot be accidental and develop for no apparent reason. It is always a symptom of some kind of trouble. Potentially, this is a sign of vascular pathology, impaired innervation, muscular dystrophy, destruction of the ankle or knee joint. Physiological discomfort in the muscles of the legs can occur after inadequate physical activity, for example, after a long climb uphill without prior preparation. but the incriminating feature of such pains is that they pass without a trace after a short rest.

If the pain in the calf muscles is present for longer than 24 - 36 hours, then you need to urgently seek medical help. This may be the first sign of a vascular problem, such as thrombosis. But even more often, tunnel syndrome manifests itself in this way, in which the sciatic nerve, which is responsible for innervation, is injured in the back of the knee. shins. Soreness in this case has the character of burning, cutting, pulling sensations, which, when moving, are similar to electric current discharges. if the cause of the tunnel syndrome is not eliminated in a timely manner, then necrosis of the nerve fiber may begin. In this case, degeneration of the calf muscles will inevitably occur, trophic ulcers of the lower leg and other formidable complications may occur.

This article talks about potential causes pain in the calf muscles and methods of treatment that effectively help to defeat the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous and vascular systems.

If you have pain in the calf muscles and need medical attention, you can make an appointment with an orthopedist, neurologist, or chiropractor in our clinic. You will be provided with a completely free initial consultation, during which the doctor will conduct a full examination, make a preliminary diagnosis and give individual recommendations for the subsequent examination and full treatment.

Causes of pain in the calf muscle in the leg

Exist various reasons pain in the calf muscle, so it is quite difficult for the patient to self-diagnose. Know the distinctive and differential signs one disease or another. Even an experienced doctor cannot always detect the causes of pain in the calf muscles of the legs without a special examination, so you should not risk your health. The best way out for those who have a similar symptom is to seek medical help in a timely manner.

First, let's analyze the most potentially dangerous pain in the calf muscle, which can lead to limb amputation and even death of the patient. They include the following diseases:

varicose veins of the lower extremities, complicated by thrombophlebitis - a detached blood clot can lead to pulmonary embolism and death in case of untimely medical care;
atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities - is the first sign of a lesion of the coronary circulatory system, six months after the onset of pain in the calf muscles, if left untreated, a person can die from an acute extensive myocardial infarction against the background of a total closure of the lumen of the artery with a cholesterol plaque;
diabetic angiopathy and neuropathy - can occur even in those patients who are not yet aware that they are developing diabetes, so a blood test for sugar is mandatory examination when complaining about such unpleasant sensations;
obliterating endarteritis - a total lesion of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, often develops in smokers and almost always leads to amputation of the legs.

The following group of causes of pain in the leg in the calf muscle is no less dangerous, since it can lead to the loss of the ability to move independently:

osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine with radicular syndrome and compression of the sciatic nerve - leads to muscle fiber dystrophy;
the "horse tail" syndrome always leads to paralysis of the muscles of the lower extremities;
hip deformity and knee joints;
piriformis syndrome;
myofascial pain syndrome;
tunnel syndrome, in which the sciatic, tibial and peroneal nerves are damaged;
cicatricial deformity tendon and ligament tissue in the area of the hip and knee joint.

In addition, pain in the calf muscles of the legs may be associated with the action of adverse factors. This can be overweight, improperly selected shoes and clothes, clubfoot and flat feet, valgus or varus deformity of the legs and hips, smoking, drinking alcohol, etc. do not forget about the possibility of violation of the water and electrolyte balance. For the normal functioning of the muscle fiber, it needs a sufficient amount of trace elements. The most important of them are potassium, magnesium and calcium. if they are not enough, then there are pains in the calf muscles.

Pain in the calf muscles at night and when walking

Appearing pain in the calf muscle when walking is almost always hallmark vascular insufficiency. it can be varicose veins or atherosclerosis of the arteries. It would seem that there is an urgent need to contact a vascular surgeon. But not everything is so simple and unambiguous. It should be understood that the performance and functioning of the vascular bed is completely dependent on innervation. the innervation is disturbed - vascular problems immediately arise.

Therefore, when pain occurs in the calf muscles, it is first necessary to examine the health of the spinal column. And for this you need to contact a vertebrologist or a neurologist.

You need to know the following aspects:

at destruction intervertebral disc in the lumbosacral spine, the radicular nerve is pinched, which is responsible for the innervation of the tissues of the lower extremities;
against this background, a problem arises with the qualitative transmission of a nerve impulse from the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the tone of blood vessels;
if the nerve impulse does not pass in a timely manner, then the venous wall does not contract and blood stagnation occurs;
the vein is stretched and gradually loses the ability to contract;
the system of venous valves without conducting a nerve impulse loses its ability to restrain the reverse outflow of venous blood - this is how varicose veins of the lower extremities are formed;
in relation to the arteries, the mechanism works exactly the opposite;
they are constantly in a narrowed state;
plaques are formed in them due to a decrease in patency;
gradually there is a violation of the trophism of soft tissues;
the calf muscles do not receive sufficient nutrition during work - there are pains when walking.

If pain in the calf muscle persists at night, then this only confirms the theory that the main cause of its occurrence is the pathology of the spinal column. It's useless to treat vascular diseases. Until the correct innervation of the vascular muscular wall is restored, the disease will continue to develop.

Constant pain and cramps in the calf muscles

In most cases constant pain in the calf muscles are associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. These may be degenerative destructive processes in the area cartilage tissue joints and intervertebral discs. Also, a similar symptom can occur with myofascial pain syndrome, neuropathy of the lower extremities, etc.

Also, pain and cramps in the calf muscles can occur with iron deficiency anemia, hypovitaminosis, muscle fiber atrophy and magnesium deficiency. These pathologies can be excluded only with the help of special blood tests. At home, anemia can be detected by indirect signs, but they are not always reliable enough.

It is very important to understand that anemia, hypovitaminosis and micronutrient deficiencies (magnesium, potassium, calcium) are not always associated with alimentary intake deficiency. Those. with food everything can come in sufficient quantities. But in the body there may be reduced absorption (for example, in diseases of the small and large intestines) or increased consumption (for example, with the development oncological diseases, tuberculosis, etc.). Therefore, it is extremely important to immediately seek medical help if any negative signs of health problems appear.

Pain in the calf muscles in combination with convulsions is an extremely negative clinical symptom. We recommend that you make an appointment with a neurologist or orthopedist as soon as possible to rule out serious diseases. You can get to these specialists for free and skip the queue right now if you make an appointment at our clinic manual therapy.

What to do with pain in the calf muscles?

The first thing to do with pain in the calf muscles is to stop any physical activity. You should put your legs in a horizontal plane without bending at the knees. if there is a sign of swelling or swelling of the venous bloodstream (its pattern is visible through the skin), then raise your legs to a level above the pelvis.

As soon as the pain subsides, you need to see a doctor. If it is evening or night time, and the pain is severe, call an ambulance.

When seeking medical help, diseases of the spine, large joints lower extremities, bloodstream and endocrine system. Those. The doctor should give directions for the following examinations:

Ultrasound of the pelvic cavity (performed to exclude tumors that compress nerve fiber and large blood vessels).
blood tests (general clinical, biochemical and sugar);
radiographic images of the lumbosacral spine, hip and knee joints.

A number of diagnostic functional tests are also carried out, which allow to detect a violation of the innervation or blood supply of the lower extremities.

Based on the results of the examinations, a final diagnosis is made and effective treatment can begin.

Treatment of pain in the calf muscles

It is impossible to effectively treat calf pain without first making a diagnosis. This condition is not an independent disease. Pain in the calf muscles is a clinical symptom of the disease. And the doctor's task is to establish which disease manifests itself in the patient in this way.

Only after the final diagnosis is established, treatment begins. Methods of manual therapy can be used to treat osteochondrosis, pathologies of the joints of the lower extremities, diabetic angiopathy, varicose veins of the lower extremities, neuropathy, myofascial pain syndrome and many other diseases.

If anemia and magnesium deficiency are detected, a correction of the balance of iron and other trace elements will be required. But first you need to reliably establish the cooling of oncological processes, bleeding (including hidden ones).

Manual therapy methods can improve the condition of blood vessels, restore impaired tissue innervation, restore the health of the spinal column and large joints of the lower extremities. Massage and osteopathy, reflexology, kinesiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, laser exposure and physiotherapy are used.

You can get an individual one. consultation of an experienced chiropractor in our clinic. Sign up for free admission and learn about all the possibilities and prospects for the treatment of the disease that causes pain in your calf muscles.