Throbbing pain at rest, with sharp stabs of pain when you try to stand or walk. A feeling of tightness, tenderness, or weakness in the calf area. Spasms (a gripping or severe tightening in the calf muscle). Sharp pain in the back lower leg when trying to stretch or move the ankle or knee.

Function. The gastrocnemius with the soleus, is the main plantarflexor of the ankle joint. The muscle is also a powerful knee flexor. It is not able to exert full power at both joints simultaneously, for example when the knee is flexed, gastrocnemius is unable to generate as much force at the ankle.

The calf muscle, on the back of the lower leg, is actually made up of two muscles: The gastrocnemius is the larger calf muscle, forming the bulge visible beneath the skin. The gastrocnemius has two parts or “heads,” which together create its diamond shape.

5 cankle-reducing calf exercises Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding your weights at your sides. Keep your arms extended and shoulders relaxed. Shift your weight onto the balls of your feet. Press your weight down and push your body upward, raising your heels off of the ground.

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.

A medial gastrocnemius strain (MGS), also sometimes called “tennis leg”, is an injury to the calf muscle in the back of the leg. It occurs when the calf muscle is stretched too far resulting in a partial or total tear or rupture within the muscle.

Muscle Strain Stretch too far or put too much pressure on your calf, and you can strain your muscle. If so, you’ll have a dull ache that worsens when you move. Swelling, redness, or a bruise are also common, and it may hurt to rise up on your toes. Rest and ice can help.

The best way to recover from a torn calf muscle is by protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (PRICE). If treated properly, it can take up to three weeks to heal Grade 1 calf pulls, four to six weeks to heal Grade 2 muscle strains, and three to four months to heal Grade 3 tears.

Tightness or pain in the calves is often the result of overuse. Activities like running and playing sports can be hard on your calf muscles. Endurance sports are particularly tough on the body.

Calf pain can result from a number of causes, including overworking the muscle, cramps, and foot conditions. While most cases of calf pain can be treated at home, other causes may require immediate medical attention.

Venous reflux occurs when the veins in the leg aren’t properly circulating blood to the heart. It’s also referred to as venous insufficiency. If a leg vein fails, the blood can back up, pool, and leak into the leg tissue. This leads to a hot or burning sensation often accompanied by discoloration and itching.

A DVT blood clot can cause a calf cramp that feels a lot like a charley horse. Like leg pain, the cramping sensation with DVT will persist and even worsen with time.

Sudden activity and overuse are two leading causes of pain behind the knee due to a calf or hamstring strain or cramp, according to Dr. Tanaka. Movements that require pushing off or severe knee bending cause this calf and hamstring pain, respectively.

Some of the most common causes of pain behind the knee (posterior knee pain) include, Baker’s cyst, arthritis, infection, injury, tumor, or deep vein thrombosis. Since the knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body, it makes sense that it might hurt sometimes.

However, behind knee pain may be a symptom of deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg), which is a serious and life-threatening condition. The blood clot can break loose and cause a pulmonary embolism in the lung, a heart attack, or even stroke. Deep vein thrombosis has similar symptoms to a Baker’s cyst.

The hamstring muscles are the muscles in the back of the thigh that allow the knee to bend (knee flexion). The hamstring muscles turn into tendons as they come down and attach at the back of the knee.

Hamstring tendonitis occurs when the soft tissues that connect the muscles of the back thigh to the pelvis, knee, and lower legs become inflamed. Tendonitis is often brought on by overuse and causes acute, or immediate, pain that decreases with rest and minor first aid.

Small tears of the tendon can make it difficult to walk and participate in other daily activities. A large tear of the patellar tendon is a disabling injury. It usually requires surgery and physical therapy to regain full knee function.

redness in the knee or calf area. swelling in the knee or leg. a warm area behind the knee or in the leg. pain in the knee or leg, which may feel similar to a cramp.

Although a DVT can occur without any symptoms, the following are the most common signs and symptoms of a DVT: Swelling of the affected limb. Pain or tenderness not caused by injury. Skin that is warm to the touch, red, or discolored.

Symptoms from a pulmonary embolism, like shortness of breath or mild pain or pressure in your chest, can linger 6 weeks or more. You might notice them when you’re active or even when you take a deep breath.

A blood clot in a leg vein may cause pain, warmth and tenderness in the affected area. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling but also can occur with no symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms

• Swelling, usually in one leg (or arm)
• Leg pain or tenderness often described as a cramp or Charley horse.
• Reddish or bluish skin discoloration.
• Leg (or arm) warm to touch.

You may get pain in your chest or feel dizzy. Call 911 to get medical help right away. Lower leg cramp. If the clot is in your calf or lower leg, you may feel like you have a cramp or charley horse.

Don’t: Eat the Wrong Foods So you have to be careful about the amounts of kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, chard, or collard or mustard greens you eat. Green tea, cranberry juice, and alcohol can affect blood thinners, too.

Along with massages, hot tubs and saunas can be dangerous for people with varicose veins. The heat that is present in both can cause the veins to swell up, resulting in the blood pooling inside.

Aerobic activity — things like walking, hiking, swimming, dancing, and jogging — can also help your lungs work better after a pulmonary embolism. Studies show that exercise also can improve symptoms of DVT, including swelling, discomfort, and redness.

Finally, Masley says that the same foods that are bad for cardiovascular health in general can also increase your risk of developing blood clots. That means you want to stay away from unhealthy trans fats, from the saturated fats in full-fat dairy and fatty meats, and from all types of sugar.