Calf Pain of a Runner

From time to time, some friends often complain about having calf pain after exercises or running. In fact, there are various causes of calf pain, and conditions can varies in severity.

(1) For the majority, prolonged or intensive exercises can cause accumulation of lactic acid in the calf muscles due to a short supply of oxygen to neutralize it. Without regular exercise, a sudden increase of exercise intensity can make the muscles more prone to this kind of muscle soreness as they had not been able to adapt to the demand.

(2) Rapid contraction of muscles or excessive traction can also cause muscle strain or tear. One can often localise the painful spot or swelling, which can be due to bleeding at the injured muscle, and movement will be restricted by pain.

(3) In certain athletes, calf pain is often a sign of “Tibia stress”. A condition known as medial tibial stress syndrome, which is common in runners, and they present with a deep pain in the front or back of lower calf. The pain can improve or disappear with rest. This is often caused by excessive tension between the tibial bone and the calf muscles (namely the soleus), which causes inflammation and pain. Running with hard soles or improper footwear, prolonged dancing or high heels can also lead to the increase of symptoms.

(4) Prolonged running on hard grounds or sand beach, without proper footwear can also lead to further stress onto the tibia, which potentially can cause stress fracture of the tibia.

If you have problems with calf pain and the pain is persistent, you should consult a doctor or physical therapist for a detailed examination.

 

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