Calf Strain

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Original Editors - Lynn Leemans

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Clinically Relevant Anatomy

The “calf muscle” is a muscle that consists out of three different muscles. The gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris all have the same Achilles tendon insertion on the calcaneus.
The gastrocnemius is located in the posterior compartment of the lower leg. It consists out of two “heads”. The medial head finds its origin on the medial condyle and the lateral head originates from the lateral condyle of the femur. Its function is flexing the leg at the knee joint, but also plantar flexing the foot in the joints of the ankle.
The plantaris also finds its origin on the lateral condyle of the femur and on the oblique popliteal ligament. Its function is plantar flexing the foot (in the ankle joint).
The soleus originates from the head of the fibula, and the facies posterior of the tibia and fibula. The function of this muscle is plantar flexion of the foot.
[6]

Epidemiology /Etiology

Internal and external factors can contribute to the forming of muscle strains. Bruises often come along with strains. There are different internal causes of strains. It can be due to an explosive power transmission without enough preparation or training. Another cause are movements of which the coordination isn’t optimal. Because of this, the antagonists can’t relax on time, and so the muscle has to work against a great resistance and tears.
An external cause usually is a direct trauma. It makes a huge difference if the muscle was hurt in condition of contraction, or if the muscle was relaxed. When the ankle is in full dorsiflexion and with the knee in extension, the gastrocnemius is stretched, and is more liable to tear as it contracts.
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