Songbird said:
Today at the gym I tweaked my left calf. I did StairMaster for 30 minutes and then did the elliptical for 5 minutes before beginning a 20-minute run on the treadmill. I got to the 17th minute when I felt something sharp and painful in my calf. It felt sort of like a tear or rip, or maybe just a slight pull, but I had to stop. It's definitely the first time I've ever felt this type of instant strain/pull/rip/tear.
I can walk on it as well as can be expected, but I can feel whatever I did by a twinge.
I've worked pretty hard the last 4-plus months to get in shape. Very hard. I'm not willing to stop because of this.
So, DocTalk, can't I just wrap the calf tightly and keep working out, or am I screwed?
Congratulations on the 4 month commitment..no need to lose your cardio, but it sounds like you'll have to modify your exercise regimen.
If you have a sharp pain in the back of your calf, it is likely a gastroc tear and not a huge deal, except that it responds best to rest. You need to make sure though, that the rip and the pain when you examine the calf is not where the Achilles tendon begins. Occasionally, you can partially tee the tendon and then completely snap it with repetitive use..this would be a bad thing and require surgery for repair. Presuming that isn't the case and the pain is in the middle of the calf, then ice and anti-inflammatories will be the mainstay of treatment.
Unfortunately, you'll also need to rest your gastroc, the main muscle that helps push off when you run. Bicycling will be a reasonable alternative and the elliptical trainer may work, depending on the range of motion needed. I would not exercise through pain, but I would stretch to the point that the pain occurred. If you're big into running, an alternative would be pool running with a belt or wetvest.
Regardless, if you've tweaked your gastroc, then it should only be a week or so, if you're good to it. Remember that time invested early in an injury pays dividends down the road.
