Causes and treatment for calf pain

Sedentary lifestyle not only refers to sitting, but also includes standing for too long, especially if it is with little movement (no walking). More than 15 minutes in this position, without knowing how to stand properly, can cause pain or slight stiffness in the calf , legs and even in the back.

If this is your situation, try to start by reducing the time you spend standing or alternating it with correct sitting posture or, if you cannot because it is part of your job, try to observe the following details in your posture:

• Avoid bending the hips : this exerts irregular pressure on the pelvis, making it difficult for proper circulation and muscle support.
• Move your legs from time to time : or take a short walk lifting your feet.
• Take care where you support your weight : keeping all the weight back (on the heels) when standing is harmful to both the calf, as well as the legs and lower back. Distribute the weight towards the ball of the foot and toes.
• Contract the abdomen : also feeling how you raise the diaphragm slightly. This helps lift the body a little and distribute the weight better automatically.

If the pain does not go away, in addition to consulting with the doctor, you can try doing pressotherapy at home , which, as we will explain later, can help eliminate twin pain.

The fluid retention is a problem that can cause pain in the calves and legs all the reduced quality of movement and fluids accumulate in the extremities. During pregnancy, fluid retention is more likely to arise as the amount of blood in the body increases. Regardless of your case, you can use the following resources to counteract and avoid this problem:

• Place the legs vertically leaning against a wall : this way gravity helps to reduce the accumulation of liquids in the legs. If this posture is uncomfortable, at least support your feet on a pillow or higher surface.
• Inverted postures such as the shoulder stand : contraindicated in pregnancy, menstruation and in the presence of some brain tumors and glaucoma.
• Baths with temperature changes : the change between cold and heat stimulates vasoconstriction and vasodilation, thus helping the mobility of fluids.
• Reduce salt intake : especially refined salt, promotes painful fluid retention for the calves and legs. Increase your intake of fruits in the morning and other diuretic foods .

Another option is to perform pressotherapy sessions , a treatment that helps reactivate circulation and thus act as lymphatic drainage, which allows, among other things, to eliminate fluid retention. If you want to do it in case, we recommend you try the SIZEN pressotherapy machines .

This is one of the most frequent causes of pain in the area, both in bodybuilders and in people who exercise -usually or not- due to insufficient stretching and heating , both before and after the physical activity to be performed (yes, also stretching after training is important).

The tendinitis, cramping and muscle strains can arise due to overexertion in an isolated muscle during exercise or continuous effort without sufficient rest. The immediate attention of serious injuries such as tears, if they arise, mainly merit the application of cold ice packs. Then, depending on the severity of the injury, the doctor or specialist physiotherapist will indicate the best treatment parameters for each use.

Chronic nerve damage and peripheral neuropathies are conditions that can cause pain (called neuralgia) in the calves and other segments of the leg, such as the heel. The sciatica can also cause pain, which commonly extends from the lower back and hence the whole leg, but in some cases can be stronger in some segments of the same. This pain would be accentuated when changing posture after a long time without moving, especially if the posture is sitting or incorrect.

Unlike other types of pain, nerve pain is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Alterations in sensation and anesthesia
• Muscular weakness

Calf pain, what to do?

The most common causes to address to reduce these problems are:

• If it is sciatic pain : it is usually necessary to practice home remedies for sciatica , constant stretching exercises and take care of daily postures, reducing as much as possible the activities that lead to continue to harm you.
• In the case of neuropathies : you should pay attention to your diet, your day-to-day postures and the possible diseases that may be the cause of this problem. An example of this can be autoimmune diseases, diabetes, infections and hyperplasias (tumors).

Since the beginning of humanity it has been known that food can be our medicine, especially if we talk about prevention. The deficit of some nutrients can favor that we present problems in the calf and other muscles, since each part of us needs to feed properly:

• The consumption of organic and quality proteins : it is necessary for our muscles to be able to effectively replenish and even keep our nervous system healthy and prevent neuralgia, thanks to Omega 3 EPA and DHA. Mainly fish, as well as any organically raised meat, eggs, and mushrooms.
• Balance in the consumption of sodium and potassium : we already mentioned that the consumption of salt in excess favors the retention of liquids, one of the causes of pain in the legs and twins. But did you know that one of the most important deficiencies that promote muscle damage is potassium deficiency , even when salt is reduced? This and other fundamental minerals can be found in abundance and balance in all green vegetables and fruits such as bananas, bananas and tomatoes.
• Sleep properly : What is the use of eating the best if we do not give the body a chance to use those nutrients to repair and take care of your muscles? Respect your hours of sleep and their quality if you want the body to repair itself in the best way to the tasks of the day, especially if you exercise continuously (these relaxing infusions can help you sleep). In this way you will prevent a lot of aches and pains. Your body and emotional health will thank you.

To prevent muscle pain, the best thing we can do is stretch the muscles. In this case, we will focus on stretching the calves. There are many ways to do it, although the most common are:

• Incline Calf Stretch : While standing without bending your knees, try to touch the tips of your toes and hold for a few seconds. In case of being in an office, you can also do it sitting, although it is not as effective.
• Stand on your toes : Another easy option to stretch your calves is to stand on your toes for a few seconds, going as high as possible.
• Stretch your feet : another ideal option for both standing and sitting is by stretching your toes up, without taking your heel off the ground.

These exercises are also valid for when we feel pain in the calves, as it can help relieve discomfort.

Another very common muscle pain is back pain. Therefore, in addition to these tips on how to stretch the calves, you may also be interested in reading this other article on Back stretches to relieve pain .

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Calf pain: causes and what to do to relieve it , we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .