Pain is felt immediately, and can feel like a burning or stabbing sensation. The degree of this strain is graded from one to three. In the sub-acute stage (3days – 3 weeks) heat therapy can be applied. With a grade 1 strain, there will be tightness in the back of the lower limb and may cause a minor limp. Grade 1 Calf Strain Recovery Time – Approximately 1 to 3 Weeks: Grade one calf muscle tears are a result of mild overstretching resulting in some small micro tears in the calf muscle fibres. Grade 1: A mild strain where only a few of the muscle fibers are strained. The severity of these tears depends on the depth and suddenness of the stretch. A pulled calf muscle refers to strains within the two muscles in the lower back of your leg that make up your calf. People who experience a grade one strain will feel some pain and sensitivity, and the muscle will probably feel a bit tight, but that’s about as bad as it gets, although they may not properly experience these symptoms until the following day. A grade-I injury feels like a sore, strained, or pulled muscle, without swelling, bruising, or disruption in function. A calf strain occurs when the calf muscles are over stretched. Small swelling and bruising. Symptoms of a calf strain vary significantly depending on how bad your injury is. For the purpose of clarity in this article, I want to create a specific definition of a calf strain. A physiotherapist or sportsmassage therapist or sports therapist can advise when exercise should be resumed and what exercise would be appropriate. Ice bands are an effective way of applying ice therapy. A mild strain may feel more like an ache during or after exercise. However, the difference between a grade one sprain and a grade two sprain is quite noticeable. For further information about calf strain, please follow this link. The pain is instant. Unable to contract the muscle, as the muscle has ruptured completely. He sustained the injury on the first day of camp and will stay with the team to help rehabilitate the injury. It can also help alleviate pain. The pain is a result of muscle fibres in the leg tearing, with the amount of fibres being torn directly related to the severity of the injury. A calf strain occurs as a result of these muscles being torn or pulled. In a grade 1 strain recovery is roughly 2 weeks. You would have pain, but you can usually continue the activity. Resting and keeping the leg elevated are important at this stage of recovery. Apply an ice pack for fifteen minutes every couple of hours, and consider using crutches to move around. Calf strain is also referred to as "Tennis Leg," because it is so common . A grade two calf strain covers quite a broad range of damage, as any calf strain that tears between 25% and 90% of the muscle fibres will be classified as a grade two. It typically takes 1-3 weeks to fully heal. Pulled calf muscle. Insufficient warm up or cool down is a common cause of calf strain. Explosive movement or increase in speed can result in the calf muscles becoming torn or strained. Massage can help aid recovery, and improve joint mobility and range of movement. Returning to activity too soon can turn a grade 1 calf muscle tear into a grade 2 or a grade 2 to a grade 3. Please check your email to verify your sign up. Positive news for the Celtics: First-team All-Defensive guard Marcus Smart has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left calf strain, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. “Grade 1 calf strain.” Kuzma has kept a positive mindset as the team suffers wave after wave of injuries, but the forward now finds himself on the shelf for … Marcus Smart diagnosed with Grade 1 calf strain as Celtics dodge potentially serious injury By Adam Himmelsbach Globe Staff, Updated January … caused when the calf muscle is suddenly forcibly lengthened and overstretched against its own contraction. Grade 2 Calf Strain. More muscle fibres are involved in a grade 2 calf strain, meaning that the pain your feel is more intense. Grade one is the least serious of the three levels of calf strains. Pain/discomfort can be felt after the activity, and can last from between 2-5 days. Email Start by applying ice-packs to the muscle for 15 minutes, 4 or 5 times a day. If you have a calf brace, that can also help reduce pain and speed up recovery time for all grades. Ross Taylor, New Zealand batsman, has suffered a grade one calf strain ahead of the England tour. Bruising and swelling can appear later. Severe (grade 3) strains are marked by immediate excruciating pain, usually at the V in the calf muscles, along with an inability to contract the muscles. They will be unable to continue the activity, and may not be able to move their calf muscle at all. For injury prevention, it is essential that a warm up and cool down forms part of an exercise programme (10-20 minutes, depending on the duration of the programme). A doctor or physiotherapist might recommend an MRI scan to assess the extent of rupture. Ice treatment: Ice, can be applied for 10-15 minutes, every 2-3 hours in the acute and sub- acute stage (frequency can be reduced according to recovery, and can be continued for as long as deemed necessary). These 3 muscles are referred to as ‘the triceps surae’, and they attach to the Achilles tendon. The 25-year-old played 35 minutes against the Toronto Raptors, but apparently, the off day was not enough for him to recover and play against the Heat. Your shoulder has a lot going on in and around it; a few joints, plenty of muscles and tendons and loads of ligaments. Taylor suffered the injury on day one of New Zealand’s training camp in Lincoln, with an MRI confirming the prognosis. At the end of the day it really just matters how Marcus’ body responds." He will miss some time, but sigh of relief for all. The muscle can be tender to touch. This is a mild strain of some muscle fibres. Spectrum Health are proud to announce their latest partnership with EQL, the clinically led digital physiotherapy triage support tool. Calf strains can affect anyone, but those who are involved in physically demanding, fast-paced sports are particularly vulnerable. You can begin light stretches after a week of rest, and move onto more challenging stretches after two weeks. A Grade I calf pull is 10% of the muscle fiber damaged. Exercises should focus on stretching and strengthening, focusing on the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles; for example calf and toe raises. A Grade 1 strain is a minor tear of the muscle with less than 25% of the muscle fibres affected. f. Classification of calf strains. Immediately after the injury rest and start the customary RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) technique. The The muscles can feel tight and pains when extended. f. Classification of calf strains. This usually takes 1-3 weeks for recovery. The lower leg is a vital biomechanical element during locomotion, especially during movements that need explosive power and endurance. Resistance bands are good for gentle stretching. – Grade 1 calf strain (1-3 weeks). 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