The Effects of a Grade 3 Calf Strain

The muscles most vulnerable to a pull or a strain are the hamstring, thigh and calf. Sports injuries like these are often exacerbated because the afflicted often ignore or self-diagnose the problem, which can turn a minor injury into major one. For example, what was a grade 1 calf strain can become a grade 2 or grade 3 under continued use without the proper treatment or rest. Grade 3 calf strains present with identifiable symptoms and should never be left uncared for.

Soreness Versus Pain

• General muscle soreness is chronic rather than acute. If you experience sudden pain while working the muscle, this is more likely the result of an injury. Pain from a grade 3 calf strain is severe and immediate, so there is little chance of misunderstanding the message your body is sending.

Location of the Pain

• If the pain is sufficiently severe and you suspect a grade 3 calf strain, isolate the location of the pain. Strains of this type will usually affect the area “between the gastrocnemius muscles and achilles tendon,” according to the Sports Injury Clinic website. This is the area about halfway down the calf and in the center.

Loss of Motion

• Grade 3 strains result in an inability to flex or contract the affected muscle. This makes walking with a grade 3 strain nearly impossible. Milder strains make contracting the muscle painful but not impossible.

Bruising

• Muscle strains are most often accompanied by at least some swelling and a sense of heat at the affected area. Grade 3 strains significantly swell and even show visible bruising over time.

Bunching

• A diagnosis of a grade 3 calf strain indicates there is complete tearing of the muscle fibers. In severe cases where the calf is fully ruptured, the muscle will bunch up near the back of the knee.