Calf Pain While Running.

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Calf Pain While Running.

I have been running for about 4 months. However, I had to stop about 2 weeks ago due to a pain in my calf muscle.

It doesn't hurt until I try to run. I thought that if I stopped running for 7 - 10 days, it would heal. It has now been 2 weeks and the pain doesn't want to go away.

Any suggestions?

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Answer by Dominique:

Hi there,
Thanks for your question about your calf pain while running.

It is a bit hard to say what the issue is, without knowing where the pain is exactly located. That said, it is absolutely not uncommon that you get this type of pain a few months into your running training. I think your shoes and/or the amount/type of running that you have been doing could be factors. Let me explain:

If your pain is more to the side of the calf, it could actually be your shins that are hurting, possibly indicating shin splints.

If it is more in the middle of the calf, then it is probably the bigger soleus muscle that is affected.

If the pain is more to the bottom of the calf, it could actually be achilles tendinitis.

Causes of Calf Pain While Running

Whichever the case, all these injuries are caused by two main factors:

Overuse
Have you build up your mileage too quickly lately? Or have you changed workouts (incorporating quicker running training sessions or hill workouts increases the risks of these types of injuries)?

Shoes
Are your shoes right for your feet?

How to Treat Calf Pain

These types of calf pain are best treated by applying ice and giving your legs some rest.
Possibly go back to some easy, lower mileage workouts and include some cross-training instead.

How to Prevent Calf Pain

That's easy. Eliminate the causes. I.e. increase your mileage safely and get proper running shoes.

I hope this helps to try to understand what is wrong and what you could possibly do to treat and to prevent your calf pain.

When you can't find out what the exact issue is out of the three above, or if you think it is possibly something else alltogether, then do not hesitate to go to your doctor for a good opinion. Pretty hard doing this from a distance.

Best of luck and enjoy your running.
Cheers,
Dominique

Comments for
Calf Pain While Running.

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Exertional Compartment Syndrome
by: Anonymous

Even if you're not an Olympic athlete, you could have exertional compartment syndrome if the pain is on the outsides of your calves. It is my experience that this is misdiagnosed in about 90% of cases of recreational runners with this type of pain.

Probably your calf
by: Dominique

oom,
From what you describe, it sounds like it is your calf. Does it feel like a knot in your calf? Then some deep tissue massage by your physio or an osteopath will normally do wonders. You will probably need to do a few sessions with one of these specialists and should then be able to go again. Your half marathon in the Autumn should not be in jeopardy yet.
Cheers,
Dominique (webmaster)

same thing!!
by: oom

Am having the exact same problem. pain back of calf high up, outer aspect. Worse after running. ran my first ten mile race in march, no prob, this started after i cut down my miles. am really gutted, happening for 2 months. want to do half marathon in Autumn, how can i sort this? rested for few weeks, ran 20min few days ago and sore since. physio thinks its calf muscle but is it more shin splints?? am really really fed up at this stage. would really appreciate any advice

Inconsistent Deep Calf Pain during/after soccer
by: Anonymous

For me it is a little different. I try to do a few stretches before starting to play soccer. Then within minutes, sometimes seconds, I get pain in both my calves especially the left calf.

I do not think it is shin splits because I tape my calves so this prevents the shin splints pain.

The pain I get is at the back of my calf and the toward the top half of my calf.

What is interesting is that there are times that I get no pain while playing soccer and at other times within minutes of starting to play. So there appears to be no consistency which is frustrating.

Can anyone please share any experiences and remedies.

This would be extremely helpful to those of us in this situation.

LEG PAIN
by: Anonymous

Exactly.. I just started running in Jan. and found I love it but now my calf bothers me to the point I have had to stop for about a week now. So frustrating. I want to run a 10k in April and feeling like that might not happen. Really bummed out over it.

Try some running stretches
by: Dominique (webmaster)

Check out a page on this website about running stretches.

There are a few dedicated stretches on that page you can do battle shin splints.

Give them a try. In the meanwhile reduce your mileage and consider working with an osteopath. If it has been five months, you need to start considering working with specialists!!

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Dominique

me three!
by: Anonymous

im having the same problem as well. it helps when i put heat on it afterwards but as soon as i resume running it gets very tight and immobile. dont know what to do as this has been going on for 5 months!

thanks!
by: Kim

This was helpful if nothing else as a supportive thought. I, too, started running a few months ago and in the last few weeks have had a very disheartening time as my left calf is VERY tight and crampy when I start running. Then it is very painful after the run, also. I wanted to run MORE not less now that I discovered I enjoy running. I've been very frustrated!

ME TOO
by: Anonymous

I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! YOUR ANSWER WAS MOST HELPFUL - THANK YOU!

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