How can you tell the difference between the soleus and gastrocnemius tear?
Gastrocnemius strains typically present with tenderness in the medial belly or the musculotendinous junction. In soleus strains the pain is often lateral [3]. A palpable defect in the muscle helps in localization and suggests more severe injury.
What does a gastrocnemius tear feel like?
Symptoms of a torn calf muscle can include: No calf strength, including being unable to balance or bear weight on the injured leg. Snapping or popping sensation in your calf. Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg, like someone kicked your calf.
Can you walk with a torn gastrocnemius?
You can still walk with a mild strain, but it may be uncomfortable. Other signs of a pulled calf muscle include: mild swelling. redness.
How long does it take for a torn soleus muscle to heal?
In the less severe cases it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. In the most severe cases that don’t require surgery a full recovery may take up to six weeks. In the case that the injury requires surgery the recovery period may extend up to six months to a full year.
What does a soleus tear feel like?
sharpness or pain initially during an activity. mild discomfort or no pain when continuing with the activity. tightness. post-activity aches or tight muscles.
Can you walk with a grade 3 calf strain?
A grade 3 calf strain is a severe injury involving a complete tear to half or all of the calf muscle. Crutches or even a moon boot may be required to enable walking due to severe pain and weakness. Immediate swelling and bruising will be present within 24 hours.
Should you wear a boot for a torn calf muscle?
You may have been given a boot, possibly with heel wedges. It is not needed to aid healing but it will improve your symptoms. You may walk on the foot as comfort allows. You will find it easier to walk with crutches in the early stages.
How do you know if you tore your soleus muscle?
How do you rehab a torn gastrocnemius?
Put your affected leg about a step behind your other leg. Keeping your back leg straight and your back heel on the floor, bend your front knee and gently bring your hip and chest toward the wall until you feel a stretch in the calf of your back leg. Hold the stretch for at least 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 2 to 4 times.
What is the difference between a calf strain and a tear?
Symptoms. A calf strain usually starts with sudden pain in the back of the lower leg. A pop, snap or tearing sensation may be felt. Occasionally, with a severe tear, it may feel like you have been shot in the back of the leg.
What are the signs and symptoms of a gastrocnemius strain?
Signs and Symptoms A sudden pain at the back of the leg, particularly at the muscular tendinous junction. Difficulty in contracting the muscle or standing on tiptoe. Pain and swelling or bruising in the calf muscle. Pain on resisted plantar flexion or contracting the muscles against resistance.
How do you test for a torn gastrocnemius?
A positive Thompson squeeze test (loss of plantar flexion with calf squeeze) can be useful to diagnose a complete tear. Ultrasound or MRI are also options if the diagnose is still uncertain. The gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus are the muscles of the superficial posterior compartment of the leg.
Can the soleus and gastrocnemius tear at the same time?
It should be noted that concomitant tears of both the soleus and gastrocnemius are possible. This can complicate the clinical picture. Coexisting strains of the gastrocnemius and soleus were found in 17% of calf strains in one radiology study [5].
What is a gastrocnemius or soleus calf strain?
Calf strains are common injuries seen in primary care and sports medicine clinics. Differentiating strains of the gastrocnemius or soleus is important for treatment and prognosis. Simple clinical testing can assist in diagnosis and is aided by knowledge of the anatomy and common clinical presentation.
Why is the soleus muscle injury underreported?
Soleus muscle injury may be underreported due to misdiagnosis as thrombophlebitis or lumping of soleus strains with strains of the gastrocnemius [ 9, 10 ]. Unlike the gastrocnemius the soleus is considered low risk for injury. It crosses only the ankle and is largely comprised of type one slow twitch muscle fibers.
Can gastrocnemius tears be managed?
With an accurate diagnosis and comprehension of classification of muscle injuries, management of gastrocnemius tears is straightforward. Keywords: injury, muscle, gastrocnemius, diagnosis