Overuse of the gastrocnemius can also cause swelling and pain. So, long story short: ease up on your poor gastrocnemius and you'll be good to go. Be sure to subscribe to the Visible Body Blog for more anatomy awesomeness! Are you an instructor? We have award-winning 3D products and resources for your anatomy and physiology course! Learn more here. When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe.
See our privacy policy for additional details. Welcome to the Visible Body Blog! Learn Muscle Anatomy: Gastrocnemius. What does the gastrocnemius do? Gastrocnemius Attachments Like I said before, the gastrocnemius is one cool-looking muscle. Gastrocnemius Strains, Tears, and Other Injuries I don't know how squeamish you are, dear reader, but not a whole lot phases me.
Subscribe Here! Most Popular. Get our awesome anatomy emails! About News Contact. All Rights Reserved. User Agreement Privacy Permissions. These are located at the back of your lower leg and join together to become your achilles tendon and attach onto your heel. The bigger, upper part of your calf. This gastroc has two heads — a lateral outside , and medial inside.
They both come from the back of your femur thigh bone and form into your achilles tendon. The gastroc is mostly made up of Type II fibres, or fast-twitched fibres. This means this muscle is important in powerful explosive movements such as sprinting, jumping and changing direction. This is the smaller of the two calf muscles. It sits underneath your gastrocnemius and starts from your tibia and fibula your shin bones rather than your femur. Then it joins with the gastrocnemius to become your achilles tendon.
Your soleus is mostly made of Type I fibres, or slow-twitch fibres. You may think this makes it less important. It means the soleus has better endurance, i. In fact, They actually have multiple important roles. Explosive power, running, as a blood pumper, support your posture and injury prevention! There are many injuries that can be prevented if you have decent calf strength.
Some of these include:. With a strong calf complex the injuries above are less likely to happen. They can be brief or last for several minutes at a time. Cramps can also be triggered by dehydration , muscle injuries, and mineral deficiencies. More serious causes of muscle cramps are:. In more severe cases, limited blood flow to parts of the body and other serious medical conditions can cause muscle cramps. Muscle strains usually occur as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle.
For example, starting a new exercise regimen or increasing exercises that heavily involve the legs, such as running, swimming, biking, and powerlifting, can strain your calf muscle. Mild to moderate strains can be successfully treated at home with ice, heat, and anti-inflammatory medications. Severe strains or tears may require medical treatment. Achilles tendonitis is caused by overuse, strain, or stress on the Achilles tendon. Common symptoms include inflammation of the tendon, pain in the back of the leg, swelling, and limited range of motion when flexing your foot.
Simple home treatments like R. Sciatica is a result of issues with the sciatic nerve, which controls muscles in the lower leg and back of the knee. It can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the lower back that can stretch down the leg to the calf and other muscles. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to treat sciatica. Check out these six stretches for sciatica pain relief. A contusion, or bruise , is the result of trauma, like a fall, cut, or blow.
The trauma causes capillaries beneath the skin to burst, which causes discoloration. Bruises typically heal on their own.
You should see a doctor if you have unexplained bruising or bruises that reappear in the same area without injury.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy DPN is a form of nerve damage that affects the feet, legs, arms and hands. This condition is a common complication of diabetes resulting from overexposure to high blood sugar, genetic factors, or nerve inflammation.
Other symptoms of DPN include:. Deep vein thrombosis DVT is the result of a blood clot forming in the deep vein in the arm or leg, including the calf. There are numerous factors and conditions that can cause DVT. Some include sitting for long periods of time, medication complications, and smoking.
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