what causes my calves to tighten up
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The Hungry Runner Blog Runners and other athletes are also prone to calf tightness, as the calf muscles are constantly firing to stabilize the ankle and both absorb each landing and push the heel back off the ground. Interestingly, calf tightness can also be symptomatic of weakness elsewhere in the leg. If your glutes and/or hamstrings are weak, your calves will often try to make up for that weakness, which means the muscle gets overused, which in turn exacerbates calf tightness.
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- Calf muscles may have gradually tightened up over a period of months through not stretching enough before and after training. Tiny micro tears in the muscles cause them to go into spasm. When they are in spasm or contracted then blood cannot easily get into them. The muscles have squeezed the blood out like a sponge.
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How to Prevent Yourself From Getting Big Calves Big calves are a problem for many people. The calf muscle is made up of two major muscles -- the soleus and the gastrocnemius.Big calves can be the symptom of excess fat stored around theses muscles. Some exercises also bulk up the calf muscles to give the appearance of big calves.ig calves are a problem for many people. The calf muscle is made up of two major muscles -- the soleus and the gastrocnemius.
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- Tight Calf Treatment. To ensure that your tight calf treatment is both effective and safe, you will want to start slowly and increase your stretching gradually. To help maintain flexibility in the calves, you should begin each day with a series of stretches and be certain to stretch prior to and after exercise.
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- This accumulation is called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.. As the atherosclerotic process of the lower extremity arteries increases, the arteries become narrowed or blocked, causing blood flow to decrease. This can lead to discomfort, cramps, or pain in the hips, thighs or calves with walking.
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Stiff Calves Stiff Calves. Calves are the muscles at the backs of the lower legs and consist of two separate muscles called the soleus and gastrocnemius. The calf muscles are used extensively in everyday life and in most sports. Tight calves are a common occurrence and may be a sign of a more serious health risk. Causes.
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What Causes Calf Tightness and What Can You Do About It? This creates a muscle imbalance. If you have calf tightness, you may have other muscle imbalances as well. For example, you may have tight hamstring muscles since your calf muscles and hamstrings work together to help you get around.
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""" What causes calves to swell? """ The calf is swollen and tender. To rule this out alone I would see your primary doctor. Other causes are more rare. A Baker's cyst is a common condition in which part of the joint behind the knee forms a growth. This is normally not concerning, but if it ruptures it can cause a swollen and tender calf. If this is the case, pain medicine can be given until it heals. Other causes could be from muscle inflammation--a myositis. There are many types of myositis which can be from many causes. Simple muscle inflammation from overuse is another cause--in fact the most likely. Fluid overload--from heart problem or kidney problem or liver problems can also cause swollen calves. Again these are more likely in older patients--it is possible and must be ruled out. I would see your doctor to rule out a few concerning causes of swollen calf.
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- Assessment Tools. 1  Beyond the use of open ended clinical interviews, the Task Force recommends psychologists be familiar with structured interviews and questionnaires related to caregiving for use in some clinical situations.
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How to Loosen a Tight Calf Muscle Step 5. Perform calf stretches. Stand on the edge of a step and allow your heels to hang off the edge. Slowly raise yourself up to your toes, then let your heels come down again and hang slightly below the edge of the step. Rest your hands on a wall with your arms extended in front of you. Take a lunge position with your legs.
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- Calf cramps may also be caused during rest periods while holding a position for too long, or while maintaining poor posture. If the body is forced into a position that tightens up the calf and the muscles along the bottom of the foot, it can respond by sending a message of pain and cramping to the brain.
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- Overuse may result in micro tears in the calf muscles that cause them to spasm, cutting off blood flow, which can lead to further tightening. Overuse injuries to the soleus muscle are common, and may be accompanied by pain in the mid-calf region.
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7 Common Causes of Calf Pain and How to Treat Them Some of the more common causes include: 1  Calf Muscle Strain: This is the most common cause of acute onset calf pain. Usually, this injury occurs during a sports or exercise activity. 2  Medial Gastrocnemius Strain: The medial gastrocnemius is the part of the calf muscle most commonly injured.
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- Flex your toes upward as soon as you get a leg cramp. A normal sleeping position with your knees slightly bent and your toes pointing down shortens the calf muscles, making them prone to contraction. Flex and point your toes, holding each position for about 2 seconds. Repeat for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
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- What Would Cause Calves in Legs to Tighten Up? Tight calf muscles pose a common problem for runners and other athletes. The calf muscles consist of the large gastrocnemius muscle and the deeper soleus muscle. When these muscles tighten up, even everyday activities, such as walking, can become painful. The calf muscles may tighten up gradually and loosen up during running, or may tighten up or spasm only during running.
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Why do muscles tighten up? /acefit/healthy-living-article/60/1478/why-do-muscles-tighten-up Tight muscles are not only frustrating and painful, but can also limit movement. Worst of all, they can make it harder to stick to your exercise program. Knowing how to manage and prevent tight muscles will help keep you exercising.
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How Many Calories Does Running Burn? Scenario 1: Running 5.0 MPH (12-minute mile) over flat terrain (Grade = 0). A 130-pound person will burn 107 calories per mile. A 155-pound person will burn 128 calories per mile. A 180-pound person will burn 149 calories per mile. A 205-pound person will burn 160 calories per mile. A 230-pound person will burn 190 calories per mile. Scenario 2: Running 5.0 MPH (12-minute mile) over terrain with an average incline of 2.5 percent. A 130-pound person will burn 118 calories per mile. A 155-pound person will burn 141 calories per mile. A 180-pound person will burn 164 calories per mile. A 205-pound person will burn 186 calories per mile. A 230-pound person will burn 209 calories per mile. Scenario 3: Running 7.5 MPH (8-minute mile) over flat terrain (Grade = 0). A 130-pound person will burn 103 calories per mile.
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When Should You Worry About Leg Cramps? When the work of the muscle outstrips the flow of blood and supply of oxygen, the muscles cramp up. Also, when the blood supply to the leg muscles is compromised, specifically from a build-up of cholesterol plaques in the arteries, the muscles will cramp. The cramping of the calves during exertion is something called claudication, which heralds the presence of peripheral artery disease, or PAD.
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The Flexibility Coach Relieving Tight Calf Muscles: 3 Overlooked Essentials. Of all common complaints on the subject of flexibility and fitness — low back stiffness, neck and shoulder tension, achey hips, by far the one that comes up the most often is that of tight calf muscles.
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Why Do My Calf Muscles Cramp When I Run? This differs a bit from calf pain from causes other than cramping that results in muscle spasm. Exercise-related cramps are likely caused by muscle fatigue and may involve the Golgi tendon bodies, which normally fire to inhibit the muscle from contracting too hard. If the Golgi body fatigues, the nerve input to the muscle is overstimulated and the muscle cramps.
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- Introduction. Leg cramps are a common and usually harmless condition where the muscles in your leg suddenly become tight and painful. It usually occurs in the calf muscles, although it can affect any part of your leg, including your feet and thighs.
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How to Loosen a Tight Calf Muscle Stretch your gastronemius -- your outer calf muscle -- by first sitting on the floor with both legs extended in front of you with your heels touching the ground and your toes pointed toward the ceiling. Loop a resistance band around the balls of your feet and hold a resistance band end in each hand.
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What causes painfully tight thigh muscles? Thigh muscles can be tight for a number of reasons, including: Osteoarthritis of the hips — This is the wear-and-tear type of arthritis. The smooth cartilage that lines the joint breaks down over time. Because of how the nerves around the hip function, trouble in the hip is often felt as thigh discomfort.
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- (Pulled Calf Muscle; Gastrocnemius Strain; Gastrocnemius Tear; Gastrocnemius Muscle Injury). ... that require bursts of speed, such as: Running; Hurdles; Long jump; Basketball; Soccer; Football; Rugby. Fatigue; Tight calf muscles; Overexertion; ... Symptoms of calf muscle strain include ... For example, they start pulling the spine into a more over-exaggerated curvature. You want to keep them nice and flexible so the joints aren't pulled into bad positions.
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- Sometimes called charley horses -- particularly when they are in the calf muscles -- cramps are caused by muscle spasms, involuntary contractions of one or more muscles. In addition to the foot and calf muscles, other muscles prone to spasms include the front and back of the thigh, the hands, arms, abdomen, and muscles along the rib cage.
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- Save. Whether a regular brisk walker or a high-intensity exercise fanatic, you may have been a victim to calf soreness or cramps one too many times. Reasons such as overuse, dehydration, muscle strain or simply holding a position for too long can all cause unwanted pain in your lower legs.
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What Causes Pain and Tightness in the Calf Muscles? Pain and tightness in the calf muscles may be caused by muscle fatigue, dehydration, heat or muscle cramps commonly known as a charley horse, according to WebMD. A person may also experience pain...