What is a calf strain?

A strain is an injury in which muscle fibers or tendons are stretched or torn. People commonly call such an injury a "pulled" muscle. A calf strain is an injury to the muscles and tendons in the back of your leg below your knee.

How does it occur?

A strain of your calf muscles can occur during a physical activity where you push off forcefully from your toes. It may occur in running, jumping, or lunging.

What are the symptoms?

A calf muscle strain may cause immediate pain in the back of your lower leg. You may hear or feel a pop or a snap. You may get the feeling that someone has hit you in the back of the leg. It will be hard to rise up on your toes. Your calf may be swollen and bruised.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine your lower leg. Your calf muscles will be tender.

How is it treated?

Treatment may include: applying ice packs to your calf for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes away elevating your leg on a pillow while you are lying down wrapping an elastic bandage around your calf to keep the swelling from getting worse using crutches, if it is too painful to walk. taking anti-inflammatory medications getting physical therapy, which may include treatment of the muscle tissue by a therapist using ultrasound or muscle stimulation. having your doctor or therapist tape the injured muscles while they are healing to help you to return to athletic activities doing rehabilitation exercises. While you are recovering from your injury, you will need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to swim instead of run.