Many are interested in why the soleus muscle hurts. When athletes are actively training, pinching of the soleus muscle of the leg often occurs. This phenomenon is accompanied by unpleasant painful symptoms. In this case, it is important to immediately consult a doctor and begin comprehensive treatment. In order for sports to be fun and to have a positive effect on overall health, you need to be able to listen to your body. Why spasms cramps? This question is asked by many. There are several reasons that can provoke the occurrence of pain.
Main function
The triceps muscle of the tibia consists of the calf and soleus muscle. The triceps muscle is responsible for the movement of the foot and bends it in the right direction. In the process of running, the soleus muscle performs the function of a muscular-venous “pump”, so any careless movement can provoke severe pain in the leg.
What causes pain?
There are several reasons why the soleus muscle can hurt. These include:
- Lack of elasticity of the ligaments. If you exceed the amplitude of the movement, you may experience discomfort. For this reason, athletes recommend warming up before starting a workout.
- An unsuccessful jump or landing can provoke the appearance of painful sensations in the muscle.
- If you create a large load on an unheated muscle, you may experience a feeling of great discomfort.
- If the muscles are overworked and overstrained due to prolonged intense load (for this reason, the soleus muscle hurts very often).
- If you injure the muscles and ligaments, unpleasant and painful sensations in the muscles may appear.
Only the doctor can determine the exact cause of the pain.
How is the treatment?
If a person is injured, and at the same time there is severe pain in the soleus muscle, you must immediately stop the exercise and immediately seek help from a specialist. It is important not to put pressure on the leg. To prevent internal hemorrhage and the formation of a hematoma, it is necessary to relieve pain. To do this, apply ice cubes or cool compresses to the damaged area. If the soleus muscle hurts, it is important not to overdo it with cold, keep ice for no more than 15 minutes, since skin can be damaged.
After this, it is important to seek the help of a specialist and conduct a full examination. For several days it is undesirable to strain the muscle. At this time, it is important to maintain peace. If painful sensations cause severe discomfort and interfere with a full-fledged lifestyle, it is necessary to drink an anesthetic, which the doctor will prescribe. Self-medication is not recommended, as this can only exacerbate the problem. Often, doctors recommend taking pain medication "No-shpa" when there is pain in the calves of the legs. This drug is quite effective and does not cause side effects. You need to take two tablets and drink a little water. The medicine helps eliminate pain and cramping. Many people don’t know why they cramp their calves and take medicine without a doctor’s prescription. You should be aware that the systematic use of pain medications can cause complications.
When the pain disappears, the patient should rub his leg with warming ointments. Thanks to this, the full functioning of the muscle is restored and blood circulation improves. It is important to regularly massage and do simple workouts.
Therapeutic exercises
Using friction therapy, you can speed up the healing process of a person and eliminate pain in the calf of the legs. If the athlete received a severe injury to the soleus muscle, the recovery period will last several months. The soleus muscle hurts, what should I do? This question is asked by many. But many do not know that you should first visit a doctor. And very often, a specialist prescribes friction therapy.
During friction therapy, the patient needs to lie face down on the massage table. The masseur should approach the client and bend his leg in the knee at an angle of 90 degrees. After that, you need to place his ankle on your shoulder. It is important to keep the knee in a bent position. Next, you need to grab the leg with your hands so that the fingertips of the masseur point to the center of the calf. It is necessary to hold the lower leg with the thumb. After this, grasp the client’s leg bent at the knee with his hands and make smooth circular movements with the patient’s bent leg. The treatment procedure lasts 10-15 minutes.
Stretching
First you need to warm up. Be sure to walk a few minutes at a calm pace. Next, you need to sit on the floor and bend one leg at the knee. The second leg should stand confidently on the floor. Hands need to grab the damaged soleus muscle and move it smoothly in different directions to the center. Before performing a warm-up, you must always consult a doctor.
Orthopedic shoes
If the legs below the knees in women hurt, you need to buy comfortable shoes and visit a doctor. Thanks to orthopedic shoes, you can relieve muscle tension and restore their functioning. To do this, you can use a specially designed insole, which can be bought at a pharmacy. It is important to order the product, taking into account the individual characteristics of the foot.
Muscle strengthening process
First of all, it is necessary to massage slightly the place where the soleus muscle is located. To strengthen it, you need to perform several exercises, namely:
- Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart. Hand hold on the wall and raise the leg, bending it at the knee, then we straighten it in front of us and return to its original position.
- Feet should be positioned shoulder-width apart and stand on toes. And then, descending on the feet, bend the legs at the knee.
Several approaches need to be done. If severe pain occurs during the execution, then the training should be completed.
Magnetotherapy treatment
If the soleus muscle hurts, then most likely the doctor will prescribe magnetotherapy, since this type of therapy will help eliminate painful sensations, and besides this will improve mobility, eliminate swelling, get rid of discomfort, and eliminate cramping. The duration of the course of treatment is determined by the doctor.
Doctors Recommendations
If you had strong pain in the soleus muscle, you need to see a doctor. The specialist will prescribe a comprehensive treatment, which includes drug therapy, therapeutic exercises and massage. Thanks to complex treatment, the patient's healing process can be accelerated. In the process of doing exercises, it is important to put your feet correctly. This will help avoid future injuries. If the legs below the knees in women hurt, then it is necessary to replace high-heeled shoes with more comfortable ones.