Brady Green, an expert in Calf Muscle Strain Injuries, discusses examination methods, rehab stages, return-to-sport protocols, prevalence in elite sports, differential diagnosis, assessment challenges, early loading strategies, rehab progression, returning to running, mitigating recurrence, and the importance of a personalized treatment approach.
Calf muscle strains are common in sports like Australian football and soccer, impacting athlete performance.
Clinicians consider various conditions when diagnosing lower leg pain, including rare muscle involvement and bone stress injuries.
Rehabilitation post-calf injuries should focus on addressing eccentric weakness, progressing from low to high intensity running, and balancing volume and intensity in training.
Deep dives
Calf Muscle Strain Injuries: Epidemiology and Recurrence Rates
Calf muscle strain injuries rank second or third in prevalence among pro sports, following hamstring strains. Athletes in sports like Australian football and soccer often experience soleus injuries impacting performance. Recurrence rates for these injuries can reach 16% in elite soccer and football players, underlining their significant burden.
Differential Diagnosis of Calf Muscle Strains
When examining athletes with lower leg pain, clinicians consider various common and rare conditions. Common presentations include calf muscle strains involving the soleus or gastrocnemius heads, while less common presentations involve muscles like plantaris or tibialis posterior. Differential diagnosis also considers bone stress injuries, tendonopathy, and even lumbar spine conditions as potential contributors to calf pain.
Objective Examination for Calf Muscle Strain Injuries
The objective assessment for calf muscle strain injuries involves a systematic approach of look, feel, and move. Observation for limping, bruising, or calf atrophy provides initial insights. Palpation techniques help identify specific injury locations in gastrocnemius and soleus and may assist in prognosis estimation. Moving on, measuring tissue length, assessing contractile patency, and dynamic capacity help in planning tailored rehabilitation strategies for varying levels of injury severity.
Rehabilitating Calf Muscle Strains
It is crucial to address eccentric weakness in individuals recovering from calf muscle strains before progressing to high-impact activities like running. Monitoring dorsiflexion range of motion and strength progression through different rehab phases is essential to assess muscle strain recovery effectively. Seated and standing calf exercises help in evaluating functional capacity and inner range strength, crucial for running performance. It is important to balance symptom management throughout the rehab process to optimize return to running and sprinting.
Returning to Running and Sprinting Post-Calf Injury
Gradual progression from low to high intensity running is recommended post-calf injury to ensure muscle adaptation to higher forces. Incorporating resistance drills and plyometrics in rehabilitation aids in preparing the calf muscles for rapid loading challenges during sprints. Isotonic strengthening exercises should transition to focus on rapid force development and power to mimic demands during running. Balancing volume and intensity in training sessions helps in building running capacity while minimizing the risk of re-injury.
Chris sat down with Brady Green to discuss all things Calf Muscle Strain Injuries. We dive into a variety of topics including: a detailed subjective and objective examination, rehabilitation stages and principles, return to sport, injury risk reduction, and much more.
