Calf strain

Overview

A calf strain is a tear of one of the calf muscles, often felt as a sudden pain in the back of the lower leg during push-off. Graded rehabilitation and a structured return to running reduce the risk of recurrence.

Symptoms

• Sudden pain at the back of the lower leg
• Pain with pushing off and rising on toes
• Swelling or bruising in larger tears
• Tenderness over the calf

Causes

• Explosive push-off or sprinting
• Fatigue and inadequate warm-up
• Previous calf injury

Treatment

• Early protection and pain management
• Progressive calf strengthening
• Graded return to running
• Criteria-based return to sport