Been manipulated to within an inch of my life at two recent visits to the physio, but it's seeming much better since. Walked maybe 8 or so miles in the Lakes up over Silver Howe and Loughrigg on Saturday with no ill effects and, ice permitting, going to try a very short easy jog tonight. Physio reckons once I get going again strength will come back in no time. I hope so as I've a longish run planned in the Lakes Saturday the 11th.
Geoff Clarke
I did nowt apart from walk (limping at first) for 23 days after I tore mine. A couple of 45-60 minute runs and then it got round 24k/1800m in the Lakes without too much bother 4 weeks to the day after I did it, though it was a bit tight at first. I think a definite help is to keep it warm when you're out. When I ran in the Lakes I wore tights and at home I'm still using a doubled-up tubey bandage thing on it when I run. I reckon a good test is if you can run up the stairs two at a time without much discomfort. Good luck.
Geoff Clarke
You are right there DT - Like a lot of injured runners I just get impatient at times and even after a lifetime of running never heed my own advice and come back too soon - but this time I will leave it at least 2 weeks - honest!!
Thanks - and you too.Originally Posted by L.F.F
Multi,
I notice you say your calf siezed.
It could be that you have not caused any more damage.
What can happen is that you get scar tissue from the original tear, this creates a bit of a weak point in the muscle. Surrounding muscles around the scar contract in order to protect the weak area.
Worth getting a physio assessment
(I once thought I'd torn my calf, physio examined it and told me there was no tear just locked up muscle and then gave me a few exercises, massage and a quick recovery programme).
Lots of friends - of a certain calf injury age - swear by Skins, and always wear the knee length things to support and protect.
The remedy that I have used to sort out calf pulls has been to do some barefoot running.
My theory is that when you run barefoot then you are running naturally, nerves and muscles working in the synchronised order that they have been wired to do for a million years.
Anyway, it worked for me.
My first post-recovery run was horrible. I'd only walked / jogged a few hundred yards and the calf started to fell tight and very odd. I spent as much time stretching as walking and running and it took a few run / walks of increasing distance / speed to feel confident it was healed properly
Poacher turned game-keeper