How long to recover from a calf heart attack

I hit 50 and now I had a calf heart attack. Went to the ART guy for a month now, been stretching, icing, heat, massage, stick, etc. and the calf feels really good. Go out yesterday, walk, jog, walk, jog, and within 20 minutes another heart attack and I’m limping home. Today, I’m trying a new PT person with a strong running background -sounds like the same stuff as the ART guy, manipulation and some trigger point. I’ll see what they have to say.

I’m totally frustrated that its no better. Have been relatively injury free for 30 years. Luckily my A race is November but I think I’m going to have to bag Lonestar in two weeks.

Is there hope? I’ve read ST and some other sites and it seems like its hard to get rid of wants it happens.

20 minutes was too long. Go out for 5 minutes to start. Increase it a minute or two a day until you are back up to 20-25 minutes, then you are probably good to go. If it happens again, don’t go more than a few days or a week without getting back out there. As soon as you feel something, stop running immediately and massage it well, then walk or easy jog home. Give it a few days with some massage, then short easy runs. I’ve had 3-4 of them that laid me up for a month or more until I learned to get my butt back out there as described above, even getting one and massaging it and continuing on without losing a day.

The problem with hitting 50 is that it hits back.

Thanks. Any thought on how biking impacts the healing process. I’m still biking and swimming and it doesn’t seem to bother it. I’m assuming it helps with blood flow.

Thanks. Any thought on how biking impacts the healing process. I’m still biking and swimming and it doesn’t seem to bother it. I’m assuming it helps with blood flow.

Blood flow is key. I’ve always found that cycling really doesn’t use the calves much (assuming your seat isn’t too high) unless you do a lot of climbing, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Same with swimming.

2 years…but it happened to me at the ripe old age of 28.
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Waaaayyyy too much, too soon. Ken’s advice is solid. Start out with a couple of minutes and progress from there.

I used a modified version of this article: http://www.thestick.net/Articles/Calf_%20Heart_%20Attack.htm and it worked well. In the meantime, I did a lot of pool running to maintain my run fitness. The only thing I changed a bit was the “return to running” bit…I started a bit slower than it suggests.

I’ve had trouble with calf strains as well. In addition to the other advice, I went to the Mend Me Shop online and bought an ultrasound wand so I could self-administer that additional treatment. The PTs I was working with were basically using the same regime, with the addition of the ultrasound. Designed to increase blood flow.

I appreciate your frustration.

I’ve been dealing with an achilles issue and trying to stay on target for a couple of races in the next 30 days. One way I’ve taken the load off is water running. It’s a documented way to help preserve running fitness when you can’t load up the legs for whatever reason. I’m able to run, but not push it, so I’ve been doing my “speed work” in the deep end of the pool. If you do it right, it really can kick your ass. I’ll know in a couple of weeks (St. Anthony’s) whether it worked or not.

So sayeth Ed Coyle:

Even exercises that seem similar are rarely similar enough, Dr. Coyle added. Some injured runners run in a pool, wearing a vest. That, Dr. Coyle said, is not the same as running on land. In fact, it is more like bicycling because it uses the quadriceps muscles to push against the water.

You are describing exactly the problem I’ve had. I would run, strain a calf, rest/recover – and then run and strain my calf. All since I turned 44 – very frustrating.

Have solved it by stretching – but stretching the whole leg, not just the calf. Start with the calf, then the hamstring, then the gluteus. In the mornign before I run and then in the evening before I turn in.

At least for me, it really works – when I’m disciplined and keep up with it I don’t have a problem anymore.

Try Graston. I’ll bet it will get you out there MUCH faster.

Thanks for all the advice.

The last four weeks I had ART but today I went to a PT that does Trigger Point/Dry Needling. All I can say was that was interesting.

Basically all the same things as you indicated - stretch, nerve flossing, massage, heat, no ice. While he didn’t say it, I think he thinks ART was treating more the symptom and not the cause. He also stuck me near my spine and glut, which was very painful. He thinks its more nerve impingement. At this point, I’m going to do it all. I think the ART helps the calf with blood flow and any scare tissue and the dry needling helps all the muscles down by butt and leg to get the blood flowing and release.

I’ll try the running again this weekend but only for a few min max.

Thanks

So sayeth Ed Coyle:

Even exercises that seem similar are rarely similar enough, Dr. Coyle added. Some injured runners run in a pool, wearing a vest. That, Dr. Coyle said, is not the same as running on land. In fact, it is more like bicycling because it uses the quadriceps muscles to push against the water.

It Might not be the same but its pretty good, and when you don’t have a choice its better than nothing. I have known a lot of athletes that have had fantastic results with water running.

Thanks. Any thought on how biking impacts the healing process. I’m still biking and swimming and it doesn’t seem to bother it. I’m assuming it helps with blood flow.

Blood flow is key. I’ve always found that cycling really doesn’t use the calves much (assuming your seat isn’t too high) unless you do a lot of climbing, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Same with swimming.

According to some research from Associate Professor Jim Martin at the University of Utah the calf muscles were the first to fatigue during cycling. They were affected by fatigue before the quads & glutes. I know it sounds strange. I was kind of surprised too.

Is a “calf heart attack” when the soleus locks up entirely and it feels as though it is tearing itself apart. Simeultaneously locking your foot ?

I occasionally have had these swimming after running , but the severe ones …CHA twice only.

The most recent during the swim le of IM Canada last year 2-2.5 km’s into the swim. The right , then the left shortly afterwards.
Exceptionally painful causing me to roll over onto my back and grab it whilst trying ery hard not to scream “too” loud in agony.
I tought it would be caused by dehydration , but I was very well hydrated. Water temperature or inflexibility of the area at the time may have contributed , I “presume”.

Made for an overly-aerobic bike and delicate run as they were both clearly damaged.

I continued my acation for tn moe days with minimal active recovery , but plenty of icing , stretching and genral caution.

Hope you get ths under control.
Thanks for posting the thread and I look forward to reading through “your” and other responses.

Cheers,

Terry

I have been using nordic walking at a nice hard pace with xc ski poles on rolling trails as a way to get out for a longer session of over and hour without having the calf tighten up. For me it’s more toward the lower end of the exertion scale, but it’s a decent load on the legs and I can’t run for an hour, so I’ll use it once or twice a week and a bridge until I can run a little more. It’s a good upper body workout also.

I was steady eddy all winter with a nice diet of 30 minute runs, then got greedy once the trails were snow free and overdid a weekend run and got that tightness, I walked it off and it did not “pop” but I’m taking it slow.

For what its worth…

This is an update of a post I made back in July 2007.

I was having recurring calf problems (both legs) for 4-1/2 years starting when I was 42. When running, my calf felt like it would “grab” and there would be no way to continue running. Typically, it would be sore for 24 hours, then the pain would go away unless I tried to run. After 4 days or so, I could start running again, but slowly and for short periods. Over a period of weeks, I could return to my normal level of activity until it happened again. Some of the things I tried:

Heavy-Load Eccentric Calf Muscle Training
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/achilles-tendonitis.html

My sports medicine doc claimed a 100% success rate with this treatment (until I came along).

Compression Socks

I tried these before they became popular. I raced in them once and I’ve never received so many comments about my attire. They seemed to help, but I just couldn’t stand the abuse.

The Stick
www.thestick.com

Others seem to like this, but I don’t care for it.

Acupuncture

I did this for about 10 weeks and was injury free during and for 5 months after. The problem was that the treatments were becoming increasingly painful. When jury duty interrupted my weekly sessions, I never went back. I don’t know why it worked, but it did seem to work.

TP Massage Baller
www.tpmassageball.com

I used the Quadballer on a big piece of foam daily. I would go both directions on the calf muscle from the foot to the back of the knee. This seemed to lengthen the periods between injuries but didn’t cure me.

“Calf Heart Attack” rehab
www.thestick.net/Articles/Calf_%20Heart_%20Attack.htm

I followed this protocol after one of my calf injuries and went about 3 months without any further injury. The article described my injury perfectly and the treatment makes sense, but it wasn’t long lasting as the injury occurred again

Active Release Techniques and The Graston Technique
I went to see a chiropractor who specialized in Active Release Techniques (ART) and the Graston Technique back in February 2008. I’ve been injury free (knock on wood) since. The initial treatments were really painful. He took what looked like a large butter knife and scraped down the back of my leg while the muscle was under tension. He also did (and still does) some pretty intense deep tissue massage. I saw him twice a week for the first three weeks, once a week for three weeks, once every other week for a month and once a month since then. I still use the quadballer on a foam pad on a regular basis. And I do the following calf stretches after every run.

Calf Stretches

You will need a post for support.

Stand about an arm’s length away from the pole facing it. Place the heel of one leg on the ground close to the base of the pole with only the big toe making contact up on the pole (the bottom of your foot should be pointing up at about 45 degrees from the ground). Keeping the leg and back straight, lean into the pole slowly until you feel moderate tension in your calf. Hold the stretch for 60 seconds then alternate legs.

The second stretch is similar to the first except you make contact with the pole with your entire forefoot rather than just the big toe. And you bend your front leg. You initiate the stretch by pressing your knee towards the pole until you feel tension. Hold the stretch for 60 seconds then alternate legs.

The third stretch combines the first two. Keep the front leg straight, and make contact with the pole with the entire forefoot. Keeping the leg and back straight, lean into the pole slowly until you feel moderate tension in your calf. Hold the stretch for 60 seconds then alternate legs.

Been getting these damn things for years. It seems that from what my Dr. says, it’s reoccuring muscle tears. After a tear, your body will fix itself by layering scar tissue within days. The problem is that if you don’t get massage to work on the scar tissue if can happen again and again. I’ve kept a running log for over 20 years and have found that doing trails with uneven footing when it’s cold, running fast or tempo pace without being properly warmed up, or doing any twisty turny runs/down hill running causes it to happen for me. The only remedies are rest and one time I did get a steroid shot and did a 70.3 7 days later with no pain. It’s the only injury I ever get, but it sucks. I now don’t do any hard running ie: sub 6 minute pace without adequate base mileage. Also, taking calcium/magnesium before bedtime and being very hydrated helps alot. Good luck.

Have never heard the phrase “calf heart attack” before. A cramp? A muscle knot?

I hit 50 and now I had a calf heart attack. Went to the ART guy for a month now, been stretching, icing, heat, massage, stick, etc. and the calf feels really good. Go out yesterday, walk, jog, walk, jog, and within 20 minutes another heart attack and I’m limping home. Today, I’m trying a new PT person with a strong running background -sounds like the same stuff as the ART guy, manipulation and some trigger point. I’ll see what they have to say.

I’m totally frustrated that its no better. Have been relatively injury free for 30 years. Luckily my A race is November but I think I’m going to have to bag Lonestar in two weeks.

Is there hope? I’ve read ST and some other sites and it seems like its hard to get rid of wants it happens.

You have an extra heart in your calf?

Seriously, try some eccentric calf exercises.

Agree with Ken, start with very short runs once or twice per day if possible.

Try warming up on the bike or trainer first, so you’re warm to start. Get rid of overbuilt running shoes.

Aquarunning will help with run fitness in the meantime.