Tight calf muscles!
SkinnyLight777
Posts: 36 Member
Hey guys, what is the best relief for tight calf muscles? Also, does anyone no if the Arc Trainer, can cause tight calves, or does it stretch them some. As when I work out on it seems to give a good calf stretch. Yet my calf muscles are still tight. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 
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Yup, your calf muscles are "tight" because you worked them. You worked out, got a good calf pump, and now you're feeling the results of that. Just stretch lightly and let time pass. If it's not painful in that "holy *kitten*, something is wrong" kind of way, you'll be fine.0
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@BecomingBane thanks for your input. I have been gentle stretching. Yet seems always tight, not painful.0
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Again, that's call a "pump". When you exercise a muscle blood and fluid rush into the muscle causing it to expand.
"The greatest feeling you can get in a gym, or the most satisfying feeling you can get in the gym is... The Pump. Let's say you train your biceps. Blood is rushing into your muscles and that's what we call The Pump. You muscles get a really tight feeling, like your skin is going to explode any minute, and it's really tight - it's like somebody blowing air into it, into your muscle. It just blows up, and it feels really different. It feels fantastic." -Arnold
Odds are this is what you are experiencing, and not something more sinister. It will pass, usually lasts about an hour to a few hours depending on your level of hydration and rate of blood flow.0 -
@BecomingBane thank you! Yeah, its off and on all week. Or all month I should say. I guess that's what happening. Does it go away as you get stronger?0
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Not really. Soreness will go away as you continue to do the same activity, but "getting a pump" will pretty much always happen to some extent if you work the muscle tissue sufficiently. But, that isn't to say, that if your level of effort stays the same, you will continue to stress the muscle in the same way. As you gain strength and endurance, it will take more and more effort to stress the tissue in the same fashion, so you'd have to work harder to achieve the same level of "pump"0
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If it feels tight, and it's bothering you, then stretch them often.. like every hour or two. Here is how
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkgkmbXz8Mo
Tight calves are pretty common nowadays partly because most shoes have a raised heel, which activates the calves more. Wearing "zero heel" shoes is the alternative.0 -
@BecomingBane Thanks again for the great information! @cherimoose thanks for the link! Will check it out!0
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A while back I had tight calf muscles causing knee discomfort. I used a piece of dowel and oil and rubbed / rolled them. Hurt like hell, but did the job.0
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Get yourself a foam roller, and look up how to use it on you tube. They really work at relieving muscle tightness. It will hurt to use it at first but use it after every work out and you'll really notice the difference it makes.0
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You need to take magnesium.0
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Thanks guys for you input!0
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I was also going to say lacrosse ball! Love that thing.0
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Yep I love using the lacrosse ball to break up the tissue; the ball is also great to use on your chest, lats, shoulders and glutes. Put the ball into a sock or cut off/knee length nylon, pin the ball between your back/shoulders and a wall & roll out. The ball stays in place & easy to move around,
I had a minor calf year earlier this year and did active stretching used the barbell to roll the calf on. It hurt like the devil rolling the injured tissue but I loved the results.0 -
Static stretch - foam roller0
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Get yourself a foam roller, and look up how to use it on you tube. They really work at relieving muscle tightness. It will hurt to use it at first but use it after every work out and you'll really notice the difference it makes.
This is what I use. I absolutely have to use it nightly, or I start having plantar fascia pain from all the calf tightness. You have to roll it pretty hard on the sore spots/knots.
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Make sure getting enough iron in your diet. It's main function is to get oxygen into the blood stream. I started getting calf cramping at night and since upping the iron intake, no more cramps. It worked instantly So if you're deficienct in iron it could greatly help you out.0
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Thank you everyone for all your help! Will check on the iron. Tried foam rolling at the gym and feeling much better!0
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My calves started hurting after I started working as a sales clerk in a store for a while. Standing 5 hours at a time was difficult. I went to my orthopedist who sent me to a physical therapist. I spent about two months stretching my calves and achilles tendon and strengthening both. It made a big difference.0
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Cherimoose wrote: »If it feels tight, and it's bothering you, then stretch them often.. like every hour or two. Here is how
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkgkmbXz8Mo
Tight calves are pretty common nowadays partly because most shoes have a raised heel, which activates the calves more. Wearing "zero heel" shoes is the alternative.
I have only recently heard about this trend towards zero heel shoes, minimalist running shoes etc. Do people have opinions on this as a solution? I have had calf soreness/tightness in my right calf for months and months now and wonder if this could provide some relief.0 -
You are probably just sore from working muscles you dont normally use. It will pass and your body will get used to it eventually if you keep it up.0
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Cherimoose wrote: »If it feels tight, and it's bothering you, then stretch them often.. like every hour or two. Here is how
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkgkmbXz8Mo
Tight calves are pretty common nowadays partly because most shoes have a raised heel, which activates the calves more. Wearing "zero heel" shoes is the alternative.
I have only recently heard about this trend towards zero heel shoes, minimalist running shoes etc. Do people have opinions on this as a solution? I have had calf soreness/tightness in my right calf for months and months now and wonder if this could provide some relief.
Zero drop shoes are actually notorious for causing calf pain, at least at first. Your muscles are working differently, so you have to ease into it or you can end up with cramps, etc.0 -
Stretch, foam rollers and eat a banana.0
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Cherimoose wrote: »If it feels tight, and it's bothering you, then stretch them often.. like every hour or two. Here is how
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkgkmbXz8Mo
Tight calves are pretty common nowadays partly because most shoes have a raised heel, which activates the calves more. Wearing "zero heel" shoes is the alternative.
I have only recently heard about this trend towards zero heel shoes, minimalist running shoes etc. Do people have opinions on this as a solution? I have had calf soreness/tightness in my right calf for months and months now and wonder if this could provide some relief.
It's a proxy to target what can be the root cause of the issue: weak glutes and ankles meaning the calves take up more than their fair share of the effort.
In my opinion you're better off going straight for the kill: specific resistance training targeted at those areas.0 -
I have only recently heard about this trend towards zero heel shoes, minimalist running shoes etc. Do people have opinions on this as a solution? I have had calf soreness/tightness in my right calf for months and months now and wonder if this could provide some relief.
One-sided tightness usually has a complex cause, such as an issue with the arch, or the way you use that leg. You might need to see a sports physical therapist to find out the cause. If you want to try to self-treat, stretch it hourly for 30+ seconds, and sleep with a night split. Use one that adjusts to less than a 90 degree angle, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Plantar-Fasciitis-Splint-Medium/dp/B006L8N71Y
What activities do you do? If you're running, a small heel is fine. For walking, standing, etc, there is no benefit to a raised heel. The toe-down position (plantarflexion) activates the calves more.
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Thank again guys for all the info! Agree with Cherimoose, one sided tightness is complex. I also have planter fasciitis recently. For sure for all this tight calf muscles too. Since stretching and foaming rolling much better. I did get a night split, works great so far if you have that heel pain. I also bought a pair of Kuru sneakers for walking & runs recently and working great, heel pain much better! Though need to always stretch this calf muscles now every day!0
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Thanks to all the responders. Luckily i don't get heel pain and if i stop doing exercise my calf gets pretty close to feeling 100%. I don't run because of the calf, so have been using the elliptical trainer, rower and some times bike for cardio. I have had some success with a sports physio before but as i get better and want to train more and harder i find it just get sore and tight again. I have been slack with the roller and have used that the past few days and think i may be making a small difference. I will look into a splint too, thanks for that I had never heard of those before. And as I am not running for now I think i may look into some shoes without a drop and see if that helps. Do people recommend a brand? Do they make zero/minimal drop shoes you can wear to the office?
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Do they make zero/minimal drop shoes you can wear to the office?
There's a few, but not sure what's available in AU. Google "zero heel dress shoes" (or whatever they are called there).
For walking, lifting weights, etc, i wear skateboard shoes or similar. My most comfortable pair is by Kustom, which is Australian.
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I have had this problem in the past. Strengthening the shins muscles to balance helps a lot. Walk/treadmill on an incline or even just doing toe raises with/or without resistance will strengthen the shins.0
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