A calf strain or calf hematoma refers to any injury to your muscles that occur in the back area of your leg. Usually, this injury occurs in the lower area of your knee. The calf is composed of nine muscles.
It is possible that one or more muscles can get injured at the same time. When people perform certain motions of high speed like jumping and running, they can have calf strains. Any awkward movement can also lead to calf strains.
You can say that the problem of a calf strain is common in athletes like basketball players, dancers, runners, soccer, and gymnasts. Physical therapists try to reduce the pain of people who have calf strains in order to treat this issue. They try to restore the flexibility and strength of muscles.
Moreover, a physical therapist enhances the speed of recovery to your muscles. Your physical therapist is a person who is a movement expert. He works to improve your quality of life through prescribed movement, hands-on care, and providing you guidelines about your issues.
Best Physical Therapy For Calf Hematoma
Following are the best exercises for a calf hematoma that patients can do in order to recover their muscle issue. If you have severe symptoms of calf hematoma, discuss it with your doctor first before doing any exercise.
Back Knee Straight In Calf Wall Stretch
You can call this exercise back knee straight. In this exercise, you have to stand in front of the wall and keep your hands on the wall about your level of eyes. Now, try to put your leg that is affected behind the second leg. Keep the position of your back leg straight.
Your back heel should be on the floor. Try to bend the front knee and bring the area of your chest and hip toward the wall. After this, you will feel a minor stretch in the area of the back leg. You have to try to hold this position or stretch for the time duration of 15 to 30 seconds.
You can repeat this exercise two to three times a day. We suggest you discuss it with your physical therapist before doing this exercise if you feel pain in the muscle.
Knees Bent In A Calf Wall Stretch
You have to stand in front of a wall at the level of your eyes in this exercise too. Now, try to put the affected leg one step behind the other leg. Your both heels should be on the floor.
Now, bend both knees and bring the area of your chest and hip toward the wall. After this, you will have a stretch in the back area of your leg. Hold this position for fifteen to thirty seconds. Repeat it two to four times.
Bilateral Calf Stretch
Place a diary or book on the floor of your room right to ten centimeters from a countertop. Now, put your feet on it. Keep a thick book on the floor that can help you to feel a stretch in the area of your calf. You can hold on to any chair if you don’t feel steady on your feet.
Keep both knees straight and try to lean forward. Now, you will feel a stretch in the area of the calf. You can add one more book to feel more stretched. It’s good to add any dictionary or phone book. After this, try to hold this position for fifteen to thirty seconds.
Repeat this therapy three to four times a day to get better results. Doctors grade the strain of the muscle according to the damage it has. These grades are given below.
Grade 1
People get partial or mild stretches in this category. A few muscle fibers of an individual can become damaged and cause pain and tenderness. But still, you will be able to maintain the normal strength of your muscles. Walking is normal in this grade and people do not limit the use of legs.
Grade 2
In this grade, people get a moderate stretch. More fibers start tearing which causes more pain and tenderness. People lose the strength of the muscle in this category. Sometimes, injury can occur in the muscle, and the use of the leg becomes limited.
Grade 3
In this grade, the complicated tear-off of your muscle fibers occurs. A complete muscle can tear off in this category. Bruising can be clearly seen and sometimes people notice a dent beneath the area of their skin where the affected muscle is torn.
The use of legs in this grade is extremely tough. An individual with this condition feels pain while putting weight on the area of his leg.
