The difference between a calf strain and a rupture

The calf strain or rupture mentioned here should refer to muscle strain or rupture. There is a clear difference between strain and rupture. Rupture is more serious than strain. However, the patient himself cannot make a correct judgment and needs to go to the hospital for examination. Magnetic resonance imaging can conduct a thorough examination. For the calf strain that occurs in daily life, some methods can be used to achieve rapid recovery. For example, applying ice.

The difference between a calf strain and a rupture

I cannot judge the extent of my calf strain by myself. Only experienced doctors will judge the extent of muscle strain by touching your calf muscles. For example, if you feel a lump in the middle of your calf muscle, you will be advised to have an MRI. If the muscle belly is ruptured, the doctor will recommend you to have surgery, otherwise it will affect the strength of your muscles in the future.

How to quickly recover from a mild calf strain:

1. Ice compress:

After a muscle strain, you should lie down flat on the spot immediately and apply ice to the damaged muscle. Ice can cause the blood vessels to constrict, which can stop bleeding and relieve pain. Be careful not to let the ice pack come into direct contact with your skin, as this may cause skin discomfort. Just wrap the ice bag with a layer of cotton cloth.

2. Elevate the injured calf:

After a muscle strain, elevate the injured calf above the level of your heart. The purpose of lifting is to facilitate the return of blood and lymph, and to reduce swelling in the damaged part of the limb. Once the swelling is reduced, the pain will also improve.

3. Use elastic bandage:

After a muscle strain, the injured area is bandaged with an elastic bandage. Because of its elasticity, the elastic bandage will not hinder blood circulation, and the material has good breathability. It is very suitable for fixing calf muscle strains and can stop bleeding.

4. Rest:

After a calf muscle strain occurs, the individual should still pay attention to resting the calf and not exert force on the muscles in the damaged area. This is not conducive to muscle repair and will delay the rapid recovery after muscle strain.

5. Exercise:

After the calf muscle is strained, you should pay attention to proper exercise for the injured calf. Exercise can promote blood circulation and can perform active and passive activities in the calf area, such as muscle contraction and relaxation, and ankle pump exercises.