Recurring Calf Strain

[mercurystorm]

So last year after hard training for the 94.7 (Supercow - 2 Laps) I went off overseas for work for 3 weeks after the race for work.. with no cycling at all

 

First ride back after a full month of being off the bike, my calf muscle got really sore during the ride, and was painful to finish the ride... went to the Physio who gave me the diagnosis of a Grade 2 Calf Strain and I should rest it for a month..

 

Did another couple trips to the north.. brrr and left my calf for 1 month, entered fast one and from about 30km it became painful again (not as painful as before).. did a Club Ride the next saturday where it got extremly painful and now its still sore, 4 days later..

 

any idea's on how i can get rid of this calf strain?!? Its really screwing up my cycling.. in away on business for another 2 weeks, wanted to do the Berg and Dale race, but im thinking its a bad idea with this calf muscle that keeps acting up..

 

Lemme know if you have any thoughts..

[nuge]

interested to follow this one - i have a similar prob. a year ago i had a calf strain which felt like a spasm of one of the smaller parts of the muscle about halfway up the calf which wouldn't release after a ride. had it treated and recovered, but every now and then i feel it coming back again and have to force myself to back off.

 

in fact, even now when i rotate my foot i can feel something getting caught and releasing as if one of the muscles is getting stuck over one of the others. weird.

[gummibear]

If you find out let me know.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/95883-calf-muscle-injury/page__p__1297404__fromsearch__1#entry1297404

 

I have been told to try compression socks.They seem to be helping a little but the pain is still there.

[butafly]

use horse linament

stretch calf before and after ride

spin the legs

go for more physio

[SwissVan]

It’s strange but in my experience “calf pain” can to be quite a problematic area to cure for some people. Some things that I have found that can contribute to calf pain:

1. Tight Achilles tendon, can you keep your heels on the ground while sitting on your haunches?

2. Leg Muscle imbalance, have you been doing primarily one sport (cycling / running) for a long time and you are over 35 yrs of age?

3. Spinning to fast on the bike, trying to be like Lance without progressively learning to spin. (Trolls read the first line in my signature).

4. Excessive toe down cycling, do you “stand on your toes” while pedalling. This position is kind of like doing calf raises repetitively and can over work your calf muscles. Incorrect cleat set up (to far forward) or perhaps a saddle set to high can contribute towards excessive toe down pedalling.

5. Don’t be in a rush, give the treatment prescribed chance to work.

6. Don’t be shy to try another Doctor / Physio i.e. the current one did not found the problem, fix the problem not the symptom.

[gummibear]

1. Tight Achilles tendon, can you keep your heels on the ground while sitting on your haunches?

 

My quads hurt more than my calves when i do this

[mercurystorm]

1. Tight Achilles tendon, can you keep your heels on the ground while sitting on your haunches?

Nope I cannot.. just tried...

 

2. Leg Muscle imbalance, have you been doing primarily one sport (cycling / running) for a long time and you are over 35 yrs of age?

Only been doing 1 particular sport (spinning and cycling) for past 2 years, not over 35... -10 years from there still

 

3. Spinning to fast on the bike, trying to be like Lance without progressively learning to spin. (Trolls read the first line in my signature).

Was really cruising on the FastOne when it got sore again, so dont think its a spinning to fast problem, was riding with my dad and did just over 4hr30, so wasnt like we where pushing it

 

4. Excessive toe down cycling, do you “stand on your toes” while pedalling. This position is kind of like doing calf raises repetitively and can over work your calf muscles. Incorrect cleat set up (to far forward) or perhaps a saddle set to high can contribute towards excessive toe down pedalling.

Could be.. will need to check my style when I get back to SA next week Friday and see if it could be this

 

5. Don’t be in a rush, give the treatment prescribed chance to work.

I was off for an entire month and she said 3-4 weeks, so did give it a chance..

 

6. Don’t be shy to try another Doctor / Physio i.e. the current one did not found the problem, fix the problem not the symptom.

Going to see a specialist sports physio when i get home, instead of just the regular one i used last time