I have a knot in my lower right calf. Its not painful and does not bother me when running but would like for it to go away. I’ve had problems with that calf periodically over the years likely due to some imbalance from 2 right knee surgeries. I roll it hard and use a lacrosse ball on it but won’t go away. I suspect its scar tissue. I have been doing some leg strength exercises since the first of the year to hopefully help with muscle imbalance but obviously that’s not going to fix the calf problem.
I have a guy that I go to for ART and he has helped me with several issues over the years. Saw him once for the calf last week and he worked on it pretty hard but I didn’t notice any change. Was thinking about trying graston to see if it might help to correct the problem. Anyone used ART and or Graston for similar issues? Good, bad, how many sessions to resolve the problem?
I would aim for IMS maybe. I have had excellent (supposed) results with that.
I say supposed because, being quite science based, I can not prove that the IMS was the fix of the issue. But I have had it done a few times, on long term issues, that resolved a day or two after.
I have had Graston but, again, not sure of it’s results. If you can feel an actual tight lump then maybe IMS would be better at releasing. The IMS was immediately obvious. I had a tightness in my flute that caused a ‘scratchy’ feeling when sitting for long periods. The issue was there for 18 months. It was gone 30 seconds after the IMS so …. I am fairly confident it was that.
I did ART/Graston for a while, had let things go for too long and issues were resolved. It did take quite a few sessions, say at least 10, I don’t remember exactly, but calf tightness manifested itself in issues on the outside ridge of the foot and was quite painful. So based on my experience, I recommend it.
However, you may also want to consider IMS, Intramuscular Simulation. It’s like acupuncture but more aggressive. It has done wonders for me and others I know.
About a month into IM training, I suffered some achilles tendonitis and did everything you have mentioned, as for self treatment, in your post. A friend of mine is a PT, who is also certified in Graston, recommended that I should start some sort of Graston treatment. Part of the treatment plan was to treat the calf prior to working on the achilles tendon. It was rough at first, I mean it could bring you to tears, but in the long run of things, Graston really made the difference and allowed me to carry-on with my IM training. I had treatment for about two months.
I would highly, highly recommend you continue doing what you’re doing with the roller and lacrosse ball, but also include some Graston treatment as well. It can’t hurt.
I had a similar issue to yours, a scar tissue in the calf that would completely lock the muscle. Tried deep tissue for 2 months, couldn’t touch it. Found a Graston guy and drove over an hour to see him. Terribly painful, but that was my choice, as they can work to your own pain threshold. He told me the fact that he could go so deep meant more good would be done. I did suffer, but after either 1 or 2 treatments I was running again. It was amazing, and the best thing was he did a cash deal that was only $40/session. I can’t even make an appointment with a doc for that kind of cash. I still go to him on the infrequent occasions I do something stupid, and truly believe in the treatment, especially for what you seem to have.
Yup 100% win for me. Almost 3 years to the month since I started the tendon scraping series as a last resort b/f I let an ortho cut on me for impingement. I had been through 2 rounds of PT and it only became worse. Not would the subacromial decompression have been a horrible mistake, but it would have not treated the cause of my shoulder pain. I swam 5,100 yesterday and 3,950 this morning. Only thing that hurts is my lungs and lats.
FYI, Graston is based on a Chinese medicine practice called Gua Sha. Graston practitioners might tell you they invented the gambit here, but the only difference is the shape of the instruments. I bought a set of Gua Sha tools and maintain my shoulders and upper back with them now. 3 years and counting = win.
About a month into IM training, I suffered some achilles tendonitis and did everything you have mentioned, as for self treatment, in your post. A friend of mine is a PT, who is also certified in Graston, recommended that I should start some sort of Graston treatment. Part of the treatment plan was to treat the calf prior to working on the achilles tendon. It was rough at first, I mean it could bring you to tears, but in the long run of things, Graston really made the difference and allowed me to carry-on with my IM training. I had treatment for about two months.
I would highly, highly recommend you continue doing what you’re doing with the roller and lacrosse ball, but also include some Graston treatment as well. It can’t hurt.
This! I had Peroneal Tendonitis and Grastons did the trick, quickly. I have used ART for other issues with success as well. Acupuncture has also helped with pain. Good luck, get healthy.
I had achilles tendonitis and went to a guy who did Graston and ART. He mixed in both and totally solved the problem within about 5 weekly sessions. He said that alternating between the two different treatments was key. Regardless, he healed me about two weeks before starting IM training. Now 16 weeks in with no achilles problems. Only thing I have done is get some good sports massages a couple of times when I feel my calves starting to get tight. Good luck!
I’ve used an ART/Graston combo for a similar issue. Like you said, it never caused issues, but I could feel it and wasn’t confident that it wouldn’t cause an issue down the line. Honestly ART and Graston has changed my life.
I’d focus on other areas of the body (hammy, psoas… even the rhomboid area, true story) to find the root of the problem. Once you find that, the calf should be easy to “fix.”