Quote Originally Posted by smoggy View Post
RICE for first 3 days after sustaining injury. Complete rest week 1. Introduced mountain biking week 2. Walking and cycling in Cairngorms week 3. Rest plus one circuit training session week 4. Built up exercise very carefully without any noticeable problems to calf. Went out for very gentle run on Tuesday and calf started niggling on an uphill section 30 mins into run. Stopped immediately and went for Guinness and read of Fellrunner mag in the local.
Sounds like you've been sensible in building back up gradually. other things to consider - using a foam roller - helps to keep muscles/soft tissues pliable, in good general health and improve circulation - all factors in rehab and general maintenance of soft tissues. also, and yes I'm biased as it's my job, but seeing a good soft tissue therapist may be needed if your rest/gradual build up hasn't got the issue sorted. sometimes there's scar tissue that builds up with injury and just doesn't go without intervention, (and whatever claims those knobbly foam rollers shout about, they cannot replace the subtle touch and manipulation that a therapists hands can do) that can lead to less efficient or incorrect biomechanics, there could be muscle imbalances, muscles not firing correctly, gait issues. lots of things could be causal factors and a good therapist will be able to identify those and through soft tissue manipulation, and giving you advice/rehab strategies, help you get back to fitness.
hope that helps, finding a therapist who is a runner (ideally a fell runner) can be very beneficial too!
Lynne