Needs tips for dealing with a really tight calf muscle

kimedbs
kimedbs Posts: 12 Member
I pulled a muscle while working out a few months ago and ever since, when I exercise for long periods of time, my calf muscle in that leg gets so tight it feels like it's going to explode. Any tips for stretching it out or protecting that muscle when I exercise so that I don't get a more serious injury?

Replies

  • Cyclingbonnie
    Cyclingbonnie Posts: 413 Member
    There are a ton of good stretches, important to stretch once warmed up, cold stretching can cause problems. Yoga is useful to lengthen your muscles too. But absolute favorite and seems to be the most helpful to me is deep tissue massage. Sometimes it can be painful when you are really knotted up, but it does the trick for me.
  • tmpecus78
    tmpecus78 Posts: 1,206 Member
    foam roller before and after workout. Can be painful, but should help loosen it up.
  • workout_junkee
    workout_junkee Posts: 473 Member
    Definitely try foam rolling.
  • BigBadgerBetty
    BigBadgerBetty Posts: 6 Member
    I used something called the travel stick. It works on the same general concept as foam rolling. However, it much smaller. You can buy them from Amazon. Now that it's better, I stand on a slant board after my workouts to keep my calves loose. My boyfriend got the slant board for his plantar fasciitis.
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    ...when I exercise for long periods of time, my calf muscle in that leg gets so tight it feels like it's going to explode.
    Sounds like a muscle cramp. Are you getting plenty of fluids?
    I agree with giving the foam roller a chance to work its magic,