Torn Calf Muscle

A torn calf muscle, or calf muscle tear, is a severe calf strain, an injury that occurs when you overstretch a muscle in your calf. Your calf muscles (the gastrocnemius and soleus) are in your lower leg, behind your shin bone. They extend from behind your knee down to your heel. These muscles can tear if you perform sudden movements that severely overstretch them. Calf tears can be partial or complete (rupture).

Your calf muscles are at especially high risk for tears because of their location between two joints — your ankle and your knee. These muscles also have very tight muscle fibers, making them prone to overstretching injuries. If you develop severe or sudden calf pain, contact your healthcare provider. They can evaluate your injury and determine appropriate treatment.

Torn calf muscle symptoms

Calf tear symptoms may include:

• No calf strength, including being unable to balance or bear weight on your injured leg
• Snapping or popping sensation in your calf
• Sudden muscle pain in the back of your lower leg, like someone kicked your calf
• Swelling and bruising in your calf muscle
• Visible indentation beneath the skin where your muscle is torn

Torn calf muscle causes

A ruptured calf muscle can happen if you suddenly overstretch your calf. Quick pivots, jumps or abrupt stops during sports can cause this injury. It’s also possible to develop tears over time if you overwork your muscles. People who return to exercise too quickly after a previous calf injury can also develop tears.

Risk factors

Anyone can get a ruptured calf, but it’s most common in:

• Anyone with short or tight calves who starts intense physical activity without the proper conditioning
• Athletes who play sports that require sudden jumping or changes in direction, like basketball, soccer or tennis
• People over the age of 40 who may have weakened calves due to aging or inflexibility

Complications of gastrocnemius tears

In very rare cases, ruptured calf muscle complications may include:

• Compartment syndrome
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Superficial thrombophlebitis

How doctors diagnose calf tears

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and review your symptoms. They may palpate (press on) your calf muscles to check for areas of tenderness or swelling.

Sometimes, gastrocnemius tears look like other injuries in your lower leg, like:

• Achilles tendon rupture
• Burst Baker’s cyst
• Compartment syndrome
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Your provider might require additional tests when the diagnosis isn’t clear.

Tests that are used

Your healthcare provider may perform imaging exams to evaluate your muscles:

• Doppler ultrasound: This type of ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of soft tissue inside your body. It also tracks the way blood flows through your body.
• MRI: An MRI shows detailed images of the soft tissues in your body. It can help your provider see the difference between muscle injuries and problems with your tendons and ligaments.

How is a torn calf treated?

After confirming you have a calf muscle tear, your healthcare provider may recommend a home treatment known as RICE:

• Rest: Stop doing physical activity and rest your leg. Don’t push through the pain, which can make the problem worse. You may have to use crutches or wear a boot for several days.
• Ice: Put an ice pack or cold compress on your calf muscles for 20 minutes every two hours. Don’t apply ice directly to your skin.
• Compression: Apply a compression wrap or sleeve to your calf. Compression helps reduce blood flow to the painful area and minimize swelling.
• Elevation: Lift your leg into an elevated position, preferably above the level of your heart. Support the entire length of your leg with pillows, blankets or cushions.

Until your provider says it’s OK, don’t:

• Apply heat to the injured area
• Massage your calf
• Walk, exercise or perform physical activity

Muscle tear treatment may also include the use of a soft cast or boot. Some people need crutches or an assistive device to move around as their injury heals.

After several weeks of RICE, your provider may recommend physical therapy. Therapy can help you regain strength and flexibility in your calf muscle. It can also help you get back to everyday activities, like walking up stairs or pressing down on the gas pedal in your car with less pain.

You may need surgery for a ruptured calf muscle if you:

• Are age 40 or younger and want to return to competitive sports and high-impact activities
• Continue to experience calf pain several months after trying nonsurgical treatments
• Have a complete muscle tear with serious swelling or internal bleeding

When should I contact my healthcare provider?

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of a calf muscle tear, including if you:

• Can’t rise up on your toes
• Can’t walk or bear weight on your leg
• Experience severe or prolonged pain in your calf
• Have trouble moving your ankle or knee
• Notice swelling or serious bruising in your lower leg, foot or ankle

What’s the prognosis (outlook) for people with a torn calf muscle?

Most people recover fully from a calf muscle tear within a few weeks or months, depending on the severity of their injury. Although rare, some people continue to experience prolonged calf pain even after their injury heals.

It’s important to note that even once a ruptured calf muscle heals, there may be scar tissue in the muscle. That tissue isn’t as strong as the surrounding muscle. This puts you at a higher risk for future torn calf muscles and other injuries in your lower leg.

How can I prevent a torn calf muscle?

You can reduce your risk of a calf muscle tear by:

• Allowing your muscles to rest and recover between games, practices or workouts
• Keeping your muscles strong and conditioned
• Using proper technique when playing sports
• Doing a dynamic warm-up of your muscles before physical activity
• Wearing supportive footwear that fits properly