Painful calves… please help!

charlieaulert
charlieaulert Posts: 127 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Recently I’ve been suffering with shin splits, which I’m certain are due to weak calves. Never really had this issue before.

My calves don’t look weak, but often cramp up? I’ve had the issue for about 6 months now, but it’s getting slightly better – It was really bad to start with, I wasn’t able to run for 5 mins without a very sore pain in my leg.

What is the best thing to strengthen them? Calf raises in the gym? How frequently and WHEN should I do these? I have football training on Mondays & play Saturdays. I don’t want to make them any worse for Tuesdays or Saturdays.

After reading online, it could be an Achilles problem rather than a calf. If anyone has any help or experience with such a situation, please comment.

Thanks,
Charlie.

Replies

  • JMcGee2018
    JMcGee2018 Posts: 275 Member
    You can tell if it is your Achilles rather than your calf based on what hurts, the muscles behind your shin (calf) or the tendon connecting your heel to your calf (Achilles tendon). I find that weak calves lead to shin splints, where Achilles problems make running and walking painful from the start and take a lot longer to heal.

    Calf raises in the gym are certainly a good way to strengthen your calves, but you can also stand on the bottom step of a staircase or a street curb with your heels hanging over the side and do raises there, raising up onto your toes, lowering past level with your feet, and then raising again. I usually do 3 sets of 10 a couple times a week. It doesn't typically result in me feeling more pain the next day.
  • angiemb87
    angiemb87 Posts: 35 Member
    Check your diet too. I was getting super painful cramps in my calves a few months ago and was told by a doctor to up my carbs a bit and also supplement with some sea salt in my water every couple of days. Worked like a charm.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,242 Member
    I take magnesium for cramps, it does wonders.
  • peggy_polenta
    peggy_polenta Posts: 325 Member
    are they shin splints or cramps/charlie horses? those are two different things and have 2 different causes and require two different remedies.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    If you mean charley horses, I used to get these but not for years. I believe it was a nutrient deficiency. This article mentions potassium: https://www.healthline.com/health/charley-horse
  • natasor1
    natasor1 Posts: 271 Member
    First thing is take supplemenst Ca, Mg, K, Zn and Fe. Don't forget to separate Fe from all of the rest of metals. If u take Fe in the morning, than others go at nite.
  • bellaesprita000
    bellaesprita000 Posts: 384 Member
    After I stopped working out for a couple weeks over the summer, I somehow managed to give myself a killer calf strain. It was excruciatingly painful and the doctor told me if it got any worse I would need physical therapy. Luckily, I caught it just in time and was able to treat it with a simple ice pack. My doctor also gave me a elastic band to stretch it with for a few weeks and recommended I refrain from any intense gym workouts. She also showed me calf specific stretches that I now do before and after every workout.
  • SanaAnum
    SanaAnum Posts: 61 Member
    I was overweight for 12 years of life and always had cramps after i would walk. When i lost weight in 2014 i walked an hour for 9 months. From that time i have gained even more weight but my legs have never felt pain or cramps.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories