In recent weeks, I have had a slight feeling of tightness almost like very mild cramp feeling in my left calf muscle, just below the knee to the right side of the muscle. Sometimes it feels like it is the tenden behind the knee. No pain, and you cannot always feel it while cycling, more so when you rest.
I feel that a recent Charity Ride has triggered this. as I have been cycling for pleasure for 2 years now on a regalar basis travelling to work most days at a brisk pace as well as some 40 miles weekend rides. I rarely get cramp.
The ride was 3 weeks ago with some big hills, and as I had done the ride previously I decided to do it without stopping. However despite having a better bike, my legs felt weak for the last 10 miles, a large portion of it uphill. Looking back, I am sure that I did not take enough fluid on board, and probably tried to hard early on in the ride. I got cramp near the start, and again near the end but in my right leg.
The next week going to work, my legs felt tired, so I took it easy and by Friday felt much better. The ache in the right leg had gone. To pass another cyclist going while travelling in to a head wind, a foolishly stood on the pedals and tried as hard as I could, partly to burn past him and also to check the legs were back to normal. After 20 secs I felt my left calf (which had experienced no cramp at all) start to tighten, so I eased off and was close to home anyway.
A part from a small improvement since, the tightness seems to be staying.
My concern is that I do not want to make it worse by continuing cycling. Is it best to have a complete break, or continue but at a more sedate pace, building the speed up gradually as it improves.
Kevin C
Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
-
gar
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
Professional cyclists get detailed massage at the end of every dy for precisely the reasons you describe
about your own person.
You could massage it yourself, thinking about that tendon you imagine is hurt.
As the Osteopath would say, "Explore your own body a little with a bottle of massage oil" and you
will probably be able to sort it out yourself exactly. Or better still ask somebody to do the feeling for u.
We are far too keen in modern society to explain away with science which some people claim to have a monopoly on. they don't.
It is your bod. You deal with it. Get massaging,
and bending and stretching, away from the bike too, and u will soon sort it out.
It sounds like a very healthy ache to me.
g
about your own person.
You could massage it yourself, thinking about that tendon you imagine is hurt.
As the Osteopath would say, "Explore your own body a little with a bottle of massage oil" and you
will probably be able to sort it out yourself exactly. Or better still ask somebody to do the feeling for u.
We are far too keen in modern society to explain away with science which some people claim to have a monopoly on. they don't.
It is your bod. You deal with it. Get massaging,
and bending and stretching, away from the bike too, and u will soon sort it out.
It sounds like a very healthy ache to me.
g
-
ronyrash
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
helo,
try 2 or 3 short jigging sessions a day.
i used to get sever cramp every night.until i happend to notice after jigging to my radio one night i was spared the agony of waking up with cramp.and i was very glad of that.
try 2 or 3 short jigging sessions a day.
i used to get sever cramp every night.until i happend to notice after jigging to my radio one night i was spared the agony of waking up with cramp.and i was very glad of that.
-
Pedalling Pete
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
Can't advise on any underlying medical problem, but can pass on two comments.
Firstly cramp can be helped by taking Magnesium capsules in 24 hours before serious rides. They are labelled by Boots as for "Monthly Cycle". I asked if I'd need to take more, as I cycle much more frequently...
An unexplained pain in one leg can be a sign of a DVT or deep vein thrombosis. As a fit 50 something I woke one morning with a pulled calf muscle, or so I thought. I rode an Audax the next day, and felt pain when using the clutch driving to work to relieve the pulled muscle the following day! Several days later I noticed swelling above the sock. A workmate whose wife was a medic told me of the risk. Yes, I had risked death by not recognising the signs earlier. Probably not relevant in your case, but worth knowing that 6% of UK folk have Leiden Factor 5 genetic condition, which predisposes to DVT without other factors such as smoking, obesity, operations or accidents, Economy Class Syndrome, Pregnancy, HRT or the Pill etc
Firstly cramp can be helped by taking Magnesium capsules in 24 hours before serious rides. They are labelled by Boots as for "Monthly Cycle". I asked if I'd need to take more, as I cycle much more frequently...
An unexplained pain in one leg can be a sign of a DVT or deep vein thrombosis. As a fit 50 something I woke one morning with a pulled calf muscle, or so I thought. I rode an Audax the next day, and felt pain when using the clutch driving to work to relieve the pulled muscle the following day! Several days later I noticed swelling above the sock. A workmate whose wife was a medic told me of the risk. Yes, I had risked death by not recognising the signs earlier. Probably not relevant in your case, but worth knowing that 6% of UK folk have Leiden Factor 5 genetic condition, which predisposes to DVT without other factors such as smoking, obesity, operations or accidents, Economy Class Syndrome, Pregnancy, HRT or the Pill etc
-
Scott
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
Kevin,
I cannot pretend to have any sort of expertise but based on a lot of cycling experience and quite a few sports injuries, I doubt if you'll be getting repeated cramps in one leg like that and I would suggest it's more likely to a muscle or tendon/ligament injury. I certainly think the advice to massage and probably more importantly frequently stretch both legs is the most likely to help.
I would not let this persist for more than a month without seeing a GP if I was in your position.
I cannot pretend to have any sort of expertise but based on a lot of cycling experience and quite a few sports injuries, I doubt if you'll be getting repeated cramps in one leg like that and I would suggest it's more likely to a muscle or tendon/ligament injury. I certainly think the advice to massage and probably more importantly frequently stretch both legs is the most likely to help.
I would not let this persist for more than a month without seeing a GP if I was in your position.
-
gar
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
Massaging oneself is a strange thing.
It IS difficult to do on account of inhibitions
of vanity and so on, but you are the only
one who knows exactly what the pains are and where, and what effect your manipulation is
having.
The caring professions are so concerned with caring.... and their own interest... that involvement with national sickness services
is very frequently counterproductive.
Alternative/Complementary practice is difficult to quantify.
Generally if you need an Osteopath /Chiropracter
the LSO London School of Osteopathy had been the benchmark for excellent training for 70 years
or more. Always ask where and how they trained and if the answer is LSO then they are very good.
Even then you are paying only £30/hour
for a four year training and possibly many more of experience. They will encourage you to manipulate yourself and tell you how.
g
It IS difficult to do on account of inhibitions
of vanity and so on, but you are the only
one who knows exactly what the pains are and where, and what effect your manipulation is
having.
The caring professions are so concerned with caring.... and their own interest... that involvement with national sickness services
is very frequently counterproductive.
Alternative/Complementary practice is difficult to quantify.
Generally if you need an Osteopath /Chiropracter
the LSO London School of Osteopathy had been the benchmark for excellent training for 70 years
or more. Always ask where and how they trained and if the answer is LSO then they are very good.
Even then you are paying only £30/hour
for a four year training and possibly many more of experience. They will encourage you to manipulate yourself and tell you how.
g
-
Kevin
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
I appreciate all the comments thank you. Some good advice in there. I initially thought I would wait for some positive improvement before posting a reply, but as the saga continues, that could take some time.
Without boring you all to death, during the last two months, I have seen a Podiatrist, 9 sessions on various electrical devices at a physio, had a 4/5 week break from the bike completely. and done stretching exercises morning and night for the last 3 weeks. Problems still perists, so next stop the Doctor and the the health service.
Without boring you all to death, during the last two months, I have seen a Podiatrist, 9 sessions on various electrical devices at a physio, had a 4/5 week break from the bike completely. and done stretching exercises morning and night for the last 3 weeks. Problems still perists, so next stop the Doctor and the the health service.
-
handallyingharry
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
I've been doing 10-20 miles a day for some time now and I am using muscles in the shoulders which have never been used before and I am just 60. I do not pedal I handal my machine with my arms. I now have an acute pain underneath the shoulder blade which is very sore and painful to cough or sneeze at night.
Taking my own advice above I have now succeeded in clenching the muscles underneath
the shoulder blade.... agony!......in such a way
that when I have finished clenching the pain is gone for some time. There is nodoubt that it is caused by my enthusiasm for hard work on the
recumbent chair top bracket hand crank.
If you look on this page which comes up immediately you will see the kind of crank I am usingwww.varnahandcycles.com/look down to bullhorn crank (they are handals in fact)
I did five miles of very hard work on it yesterday using harder gears all the way round the circuit
and hey presto! Agony as soon as I was off the machine. Doctor Handally heal yourself!
I came right in, did the clenching and some aerobic stretching for the newly actibe shoulders and THE PAIN WENT immediately. It did not return until i woke up in the morning. CLENCH again! It departed! pain back.... clench again!
I have found the muscle..... found how to deal with it..... and found out what the cause is and was. I may be able in future to use more of that muscle to do harder work on the handall crank
trike.
Rules: 1) Establish the location of the pain
2) the way to get rid of it
consequently 3) the cause.
DON'T give up cycling ... that is the cause.
Don't give up cycling because of it!
You know it is tightness! see if you can make it tighter and then see if you can make it easier;
then see if, by manipulation and clenching, you can get rid of it on command!
Then you are in business back on the bike.
Don't go near a Docotr; they have more urgent things to do, and it is only worth what you pay for it.
Hannibal
Taking my own advice above I have now succeeded in clenching the muscles underneath
the shoulder blade.... agony!......in such a way
that when I have finished clenching the pain is gone for some time. There is nodoubt that it is caused by my enthusiasm for hard work on the
recumbent chair top bracket hand crank.
If you look on this page which comes up immediately you will see the kind of crank I am usingwww.varnahandcycles.com/look down to bullhorn crank (they are handals in fact)
I did five miles of very hard work on it yesterday using harder gears all the way round the circuit
and hey presto! Agony as soon as I was off the machine. Doctor Handally heal yourself!
I came right in, did the clenching and some aerobic stretching for the newly actibe shoulders and THE PAIN WENT immediately. It did not return until i woke up in the morning. CLENCH again! It departed! pain back.... clench again!
I have found the muscle..... found how to deal with it..... and found out what the cause is and was. I may be able in future to use more of that muscle to do harder work on the handall crank
trike.
Rules: 1) Establish the location of the pain
2) the way to get rid of it
consequently 3) the cause.
DON'T give up cycling ... that is the cause.
Don't give up cycling because of it!
You know it is tightness! see if you can make it tighter and then see if you can make it easier;
then see if, by manipulation and clenching, you can get rid of it on command!
Then you are in business back on the bike.
Don't go near a Docotr; they have more urgent things to do, and it is only worth what you pay for it.
Hannibal
-
handallyingharry
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
done stretching exercises morning and night for the last 3 weeks. That is not enough you have really got to find the idndividual string which is hurting. Not just general exercises but much more detailed examination of the underside of your knee and calf. A good hardish massgae looking for the source of pain. See if you can touch the spot! and make it hurt like hell. then you are much much nearer to healing youself; isn't that the best way? Se where it hurts when you stretch most; then work round it little by little until you have the regular cure...... and then it won't happen again.
Handy
Handy
-
handallyingharry
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
the LSO London School of Osteopathy had been the benchmark for excellent training for 70 years or more. Always ask where and how they trained and if the answer is LSO then they are very good.
Why you have been to a podiatrist I really don't know. "pod" is feet... a foot ddoctor but they are that keen to earn some brass that they will say looking at the feet cures the head and swear that they have an amazing qualification to back it up.
Osteopath! What is more thinking about your injury it sounds very much like the calf muscle trying to increase in size in an older person. It is not that easy but it can be done.
It may not be an injury as such at all merely a misconstral of pain. Yes! It's painful! Get Round it by massage!
Handally
Why you have been to a podiatrist I really don't know. "pod" is feet... a foot ddoctor but they are that keen to earn some brass that they will say looking at the feet cures the head and swear that they have an amazing qualification to back it up.
Osteopath! What is more thinking about your injury it sounds very much like the calf muscle trying to increase in size in an older person. It is not that easy but it can be done.
It may not be an injury as such at all merely a misconstral of pain. Yes! It's painful! Get Round it by massage!
Handally
-
Kevin
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
Felt the need to post some feedback, to benefit anyone out there who may find themsleves in a similar position to me.
After 3 weeks of going through a very weary doctors referral process, I finally got a quick appointment at the local hospital 8/9.
The Physiotherapist I saw, just happened to do mountain biking. He was sympathic to my conditon, did various checks on my leg.
In 30 mins, he diagnosed a degenerative miniscus (not sure of spelling) made worse by the hard pedalling back in May. Basically am ageing cartillage showing signs of wear (I am 44).
Treatment. No cure, get back on the bike immediately, should never have stopped. Gradually build up to previous levels over a month. It may go away completely if I am lucky, or it may stay the same. If it gets much worse, or the knee locks, come back and we will operate.
Apparently the rest I had, caused the surrounding muscle support to reduce therefore less stability, hence more aches while off the bike.
Kneeling down for 30 seconds a few times a day to exercise the joint was recommended. Did not stress need to do stretching exercises.
Now back to normal, although slight twinge sometimes noticable, and joint feels very slightly stiff.
So far he was right, the private phsio who has £230 of my money - WRONG.
Thanks for the comments. Its good to be back!
After 3 weeks of going through a very weary doctors referral process, I finally got a quick appointment at the local hospital 8/9.
The Physiotherapist I saw, just happened to do mountain biking. He was sympathic to my conditon, did various checks on my leg.
In 30 mins, he diagnosed a degenerative miniscus (not sure of spelling) made worse by the hard pedalling back in May. Basically am ageing cartillage showing signs of wear (I am 44).
Treatment. No cure, get back on the bike immediately, should never have stopped. Gradually build up to previous levels over a month. It may go away completely if I am lucky, or it may stay the same. If it gets much worse, or the knee locks, come back and we will operate.
Apparently the rest I had, caused the surrounding muscle support to reduce therefore less stability, hence more aches while off the bike.
Kneeling down for 30 seconds a few times a day to exercise the joint was recommended. Did not stress need to do stretching exercises.
Now back to normal, although slight twinge sometimes noticable, and joint feels very slightly stiff.
So far he was right, the private phsio who has £230 of my money - WRONG.
Thanks for the comments. Its good to be back!
-
gar
Re:Tight Calf muscle. Whats the remedy?
surrounding muscle support to reduce
Shrewd physio. That is the same with many knee and ankle problems.
Over weight people have different sets of problems as you can see from those hobbling in the high street....overweight means overstress on joints and arthritic problems.
It baffles me who tells them to put their feet up
because they have got arthritis... and to have things removed. GPs and surgeons with a throughly low moral I s'pose.
Shrewd physio. That is the same with many knee and ankle problems.
Over weight people have different sets of problems as you can see from those hobbling in the high street....overweight means overstress on joints and arthritic problems.
It baffles me who tells them to put their feet up
because they have got arthritis... and to have things removed. GPs and surgeons with a throughly low moral I s'pose.