tight calves
Ok, I did Myrtle Beach a few weeks back. A month prior I had strained my left calf. Took it fairly easy that month so it would heal up.
Raced...no issues. No pain...no problems. Wrapped up the season and took almost a full week off. 5-6 days for sure. Then started some real light stuff, mostly with my wife. So walks, light spinning in the basement while she was on the treadmill.
More recently I have started running...moslty jogging. My OS begins in November and I just don't want to lose all my fitness...so I am running 5-6 days a week. All pretty easy stuff with some striders mixed in. No long run or anything like that. All runs between 30-60 minutes. No big deal.
But recently I've noticed both my calves are tight. It seems to vary on the day and time. Sometimes they are tight when I run and warm up, sometimes they stay tight, sometimes they aren't tight at all. Some days they are tight when I wake up, some days they aren't. To be clear, they are not so bad they prevent me from doing anything. But they are tight and it worries me as it is both calves.
My shoes are new. My run stride has not changed that I am aware of, I am a forefoot/mid foot striker. I have not done any intensity. Occassionally I've slept with my boot to keep the calf stretched at night, I didn't really notice it helping. I have trigger point rollers that I need to get better about using daily. When I do use them I can feel there are some knots in there...so there seems to be an obvious problem.
I do my best to TP roll after running for sure. I also stretch the calves prior to running with full calf, hip, hamstring, quad stretching after running. I have not been using heat too much, started yesterday. I have compression socks, have not been wearing them as I weighed 20lbs more when I got them...so they aren't that tight. I have not been icing.
Is there something I'm not doing I should be doing? Not running doesn't seem to really matter, although I had planned to not run today and tomorrow to see how it goes. I'll bike instead which will remind me to stretch and all that stuff I often forget on full days off.
Comments
My website: Athletes Treating Athletes
Some good info there that has helped me.....Good Luck as you don't want to be like this....
Frequency running doesn't help. Even if it is "easy" run stuff. You are still running. That may be the cause?
I use "The Stick" way more effectively than the TP stuff on my calves. Really roll out the upper and lower calves, hard. Works for me.
Also maybe get to an ART person to really dig in and release things.
John
Hey Eric,
Just wanted to let you know that I have similar symptoms. Calf tightness (pain), can be either leg, some days worse than others. Feels like something I should be able to just 'stretch out' but that never really helps. I go to a good PT, that does help. Ultrasound therapy and, on occasion, acupuncture (PT's are using this more and more now).
And what I've noticed is this...my pains come back after runs that include intervals that are just a smidge faster than I can really sustain. I guess I lengthen that stride, get too aggressive, heel strike more, inflames a tendon that runs thru my calf and 'Hello' it's back.
This is by far my biggest concern with the hard runs coming up in the OS. I HAVE to find the sweet spot that allows me to push my run, without this flaring back up all of the time.
Our ailments may be totally different but I can relate to what you're describing. BTW, I'm in the Nov OS, too, so keep us updated on how it goes!
Chris
My podiatrist/running doode sent me home with a prostretch last year with instruction to stretch calves and hamstrings like it is my job. Serious prostretch love.
Nothing really changed other than a little more walking due to a new job. Not a real big deal...but it could easily be a contributor.
Things seem to be getting a little better. I'll use the stick, but have actually had much more luck with the TP rollers on my calves. I've been using the two TP balls to work on the calves, and that seems to be helping. But I also started taking it a bit easier.
You know what doesn't help...denying the fact that you're out of shape and running as if you are in shape. That does not work!!!
Eric, when your calves tighten up does it last for several days or just while you are running? If they tighten up on you one day do they quiet down the next day so you are able to run again?? Typically if this is due to a pulled muscle it will last several days and you won't be able to run the next day. If you are able to run the next day then I think what you are going thru is similar to what happens to me.... I think (for whatever reason) when you run you are causing some disruption of scar tissue in your calves, this leads to the caves tightening during a run, then the feeling of sharp pain in the calf, as if you pulled a muscle. Because it is scar tissue that tears not muscle recovery is fairly quick, but i can be recurrent because you develop additional scar tissue. The thing that has helped me the most with this is ART, when it happens I get treated 2-3 times and am able to run pain free for weeks to months at a time.... As of late, I have not had a problem, not had to be treated since Placid, and I think it may be due to me trying to shorten my stride and increase turnover....
Brian
@Bill...I agree that the positioning on the bike can play a big role in our running injuries. My PT suggested that staying in a super aggressive aero positon might not be the best for my running. Still sleepin' on that one.
I will agree that cleat position makes a difference - that was def the cause of my probs, but I just got new shoes and the cleats weren't placed in the same spot as on the old shoes. If you haven't changed your bike set up and the problem is new, I'd be hesitant to make any changes.
I also agree that checking out the www.athletestreatingathletes link and doing the calf, IT, and hammie stretches Leigh shows us are awesome...
good luck!
Basically I had started running after roughly a week off after halfmax. I didn't have any issues to speak of other than my strained calf...which had been 6 weeks prior and appeared to be healed. When I started I thought I was careful. I was going to start into a light 6x run program until the OS started. Essentially I figured I'd do 30-45 minute runs every day as those don't tend to wear me down.
Anyway, after day 2 my calfs were tight and sore. Nothing sharp. Nothing that stopped me from running. They just felt knotted and uncomfortable. I really worked on stretching and foam rolling, etc. I took a day off and that didnt seem to help. In fact the calfs were tight all the time. I'd walk and feel them pulling.
Long story short...I pulled my abdoment (look for my post on hernia)...that forced me to take another 4-5 days off. I started running again this weekend...and have been feeling pretty good. I am hoping it is behind me now. we'll see. I am still stretching and rolling it pretty often just to be safe.
thanks