I have constant problems with pulls and strains in my calf muscles, and seemed to have tried everything from rest/ice /heat /compression socks/ weight program and just generally being sensible about not trying to do too much to soon .I cannot get past 30 minutes of running before I suffer a muscle pull and have to take a week of rest and then try to build up again starting at 10 minutes and build from there.
Background 20 years of competitive running at 33 minute 10k level and 2.39 Marathon, switched 6 years ago to cycling and in the fall/ winter I run again.52 years old
12 minutes of running 6 days ago and my calf muscles are aching like crazy .Nutrional deficiency? Flexibility is very poor?
Still want to run again but running out of ideas. Can anyone help ??
Welcome to my sucky world–here’s the explanation, it’s called chronic exertional compartment syndrome, by the way you are a carbon copy of me, ran real well maybe 10 years ago, got to be a pretty strong cyclist and bike racer, trying to do duathlons and even a smidgen of running makes my calf feel like it got shot by a gun–I ran a 10 mile race yesterday and it popped at mile 7. I’ve been trying some remidies for a year, but extreme moderation seems to help, though racing may be out of the question for me unless I get the surgery, which I’m not going to do so’s I can run a freaking 38 minute 10K or something. Maybe you’ll have a better go than me.
Wow, I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. I’ve never had calf problems to quite the extent as you, but I used to suffer from minor strains, pinched nerves, achilles problems, etc. I bought the tpmassageball.com kit and it worked wonders for me. If I feel like my ankles, calves, or hamstrings are acting up, I beat the hell out of my soleus muscles with the tpmassageball…it’s amazing how much this product has helped me. Good luck.
Not sure if my calf problems are the same as I mostly have tender knots in the calf but: I’ve been running slower (no speed work and don’t increase effort on hills), icing right after workout and then massage with hands and cylindrical roller. The cylindrical roller is death in the beginning. I never had problems like this either until I was over 50 but the slower running seems to be letting me work through it whereas before I had to take time off.
VERY common in 40-year old plus runners…and very common this time of year with the colder weather. In my late 40’s (will be 52 this year) I was laid up with this for months in 2004 and 2005. Did all of the usual things: laid off, the Stick, massage, stretching etc. In the end it took time and patience. Now if using a treadmill in the winter I never run more than 3 miles with just a moderate incline, usually swim before any running to get the muscles warm and, when outside running in lower temps, I use compression socks almost to my knees.
I would certainly get someone to roll the knots that are probably present in your calf, wait it out and then start slow. Once you do get going, stop ASAP if you are out running and the pull/stabbing feeling reoccurs…the more you try and run through the worse it gets. Good luck.
i have a similar background. One thing that really helped me was making sure my running shoes were flexible especially in the front of the foot, or between the toes and the arch. Trail running shoes with thicker rock proof soles I cannot run 1/2 mile in without feling pain. I ran in the older version of Nike Haywards and Nike Vomero’s (older version not the +2) and had my first year of not missing a run work out with calf issues.
If you have a couple bucks: Accupuncture (stimulate healing process) and Massage (gets the blood into deep damaged tissue) combined with ART for a couple of weeks. Stretch and plenty of hydration to help clean the crap out and get the good stuff in. Get healthy, then get stronger…buy a mtb or road single speed to train on is an option if you don’t like the gym, but wait until you are healthy. Common sense maintanence keeps the blood flowing and preventing injury…that includes rolling out with an AEROMAT twice a day. Good luck. I was there…never want to go back.
From The Stick’s website, but I found it when I had something that sounded similar. I only had it once (just knocked on wooden table) but it was wierd. I was in the middle of a soccer field when I was hit in the back of a calf with a golf ball. 'Cept, when I looked around, no golf ball!
EDIT: I’d meant to include a link with this, but it was just the link that dawhead included below.
I’m 57 and this started happening to me at about age 52. I’ll be running along and bam! I think cold weather makes my calf more prone to injury. It took me about 4 months last year to finally nurse it back to health. As soon as I feel the slightest cramping I stop. I also seldom run more than 6 miles these days. Getting old is not for sissies. Good luck.
i have been grappling with this since last july. i’ve followed the recommendations in that article except the stretching part. i’ve been hit by recurrences fairly frequently. i got up to doing a full yasso 800 workout (10 x 800 @ predicted marathon pace converting hours to minutes) without injury, yet some easy runs would trigger a “camera flash” pull somewhere inside my left calf. i was tryng to do Dev’s 100/100 challenge as a way to just work through the issue - didn’t work but thats likely because (a) i have not been stretching (b) i built mileage too quickly.
most recently, after last saturday’s latest “pop”, and several days of bandaged time off i swam then ran any easy 3 miles on a treadmill. next day, i ran 3.7 miles on a treadmill descending from 10:00 mile to 6:15. today i ran about 8 miles on rough trails and fire roads. more importantly, i have stretched after every workout this week and i am optimistic that this is the key.
but then again, i thought this last fall. i was running my favorite 7 mile mixed trail/pavement hills/flat route. I had done it twice that week, faster than ever, felt great. Went to run with my wife (now zooming a 6:33 10k pace), and in the middle of an easy jog section, “boom”. that one took me out for another 2 months.
its miserable, annoying and scary. what happens it if happens in the middle of Triple T?
The medical stuff I read says it will keep coming back and that surgery will solve it, though it’s a more involved operation on the posterier side. I’ll keep fiddling with rehab, I can bike fine so I could live without running I guess.
I wrote to a post a few weeks back about the same issues.
Went to an expert Physical therapist…had a running analysis done,she couldn’t believe,I was still running.My r calv was so tight,including my hipflexors,that my right lower leg went numb,after running or even walking fast.
The analysis: weak feet,weak glutteus,extremly tight hipflexors,adhesions r calv,tight hemstring.My calves measured at the beginning right -(minus) and left at 0 degrees.Ideally they should be at 20 degrees.2 weeks ago I measured at 12 R and 14 L.
She had been doing deep tissue manipulation (killer pain and tons of bruises),lots of massaging,home strenghtening exercises, and most importantly Running Rehab programm. I started at 1 mile every other day.If I had pain or numbness during I was to stop.If there wa pain after cut it by 50 %.I’m at 6 miles every other day,do hills and some track(she doesn’t know about the track thing yet).
I spent tons of times at home with my foamroller and stick.Right after cycling and running,when the muscles are still warm.Stretching has to be done very carefully.She told me that just plain stretching also stretches the nerves.The nerves don’t like to be overstretched,so they react by contracting.Then you have even more tightness.have to do some gentle nerve stretching before I stretch my muscles. Sit SLUMPED on a chair,try to have your chin as far down as you can.Stretch one leg out,extend and flex your foot.Most likely it will hurt in your butt or along your hemstring.You’ll notice when you lift you head up and keep flexing the pain will go.But keep your chin down.Keep going untill the pain is gone,then gently stretch,not too overstretch.
Good luck.
Is your calf too passive during push-off. Could it be getting overstretched at that point?
What about eccentric calf exercises.
Just a shot in the dark.
