Gastrocnemius Pain

The gastrocnemius muscle is the large muscle located at the back of the lower leg. This muscle attaches above the knee joint and inserts into the heel bone through the Achilles tendon. A strained or torn gastrocnemius muscle can become painful.

Causes

• Gastrocnemius pain is caused by too much strain, stress or a direct injury to the calf muscle. Achilles tendinitis, phlebitis, leg cramping at night, a tear in the muscle, or a baker's cyst, which is a fluid-filled cyst behind the knee, can cause the gastrocnemius muscle to become painful.

Symptoms

• Along with pain, the gastrocnemius muscle can feel stiff, tender and weak. Bruising will be apparent with broken blood vessels; with muscle tears, a popping feeling is noticed. Pain will be more severe when standing on the tips of toes and pushing off the foot while walking.

Treatment

• Treatment for gastrocnemius pain is resting the leg and restricting physical activities such as running or jumping. Apply a cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes, four times a day, or wear an elastic compression bandage. To reduce swelling, the leg should be elevated higher than the heart and an over-the-counter pain reliever can be taken.