Sore Calf muscle

[Catrin]

What is best for a sore calf, just to rest it or do do something else with it? I had an especially hard spinning class last night and as I didn't have my HRM I pushed myself quite hard - probably harder than I should have (this is one of the big reasons I use the HRM, it keeps me from pushing myself too hard). That was after doing some strength training where i focused on the lower body - for the most parts. Ok, perhaps I shouldn't do 100 pound dead-lifts right before spinning....but it hasn't been a problem...

I WANT TO GO RIDING... it is 72 degrees, winds are only about 15mph right now, and I have two bikes looking at me and I can just tell that both would like to go outside... and it is supposed to rain for the next three days!

I don't think there is any real damage, and it feels better than this morning, I suspect that there is just some tightness or a very light pull. My opposite knee is being a little cranky as well...and tomorrow is my regular personal training session. Both are just enough to let me know they are there...

I am going on vacation next week and I want to ride, ride, ride, ride, and do more riding when I go - so I can't get hurt this week

My thought is that I should rest things this evening, then do some light stretches/walking tomorrow before my training session. I am hoping that the rain won't come tomorrow evening so I can go at least ride for a quick 18 or so miles...

The sore muscle is in the upper part of my calf, close to the middle and near my knee. I am not limping, so that is good

[zoom-zoom]

No stretching if you suspect a pull...if it's pulled you don't want to pull it more. This goes for tendon/ligament issues, too.

Personally, I'm not a fan of stretching, at least not unless I've warmed-up well. Stretching a cold muscle is recipe for injury. I have had a lot fewer nagging running injuries since I stopped stretching. I will sometimes stretch each muscle for a few seconds AFTER a run, but never before. I don't stretch before bike rides, either. Just take the first few miles easy to let my muscles loosen-up on their own.

[Catrin]

No stretching if you suspect a pull...if it's pulled you don't want to pull it more. This goes for tendon/ligament issues, too.

Personally, I'm not a fan of stretching, at least not unless I've warmed-up well. Stretching a cold muscle is recipe for injury. I have had a lot fewer nagging running injuries since I stopped stretching. I will sometimes stretch each muscle for a few seconds AFTER a run, but never before. I don't stretch before bike rides, either. Just take the first few miles easy to let my muscles loosen-up on their own.

I will remember this as I've never been quite sure, and I've never been active before first joining my club last August. I just took a gentle walk over to the store and the muscle seems to be improving, though am still aware of it. Perhaps it is just tight....

I still want to go riding tonight though...sigh... There is little doubt that I should let that leg rest tonight, perhaps this will teach me to never forget my HRM again - or at least not to do 100 pound deadlifts and 130 pound leg-presses before spinning

[malaholic]

If the muscle is just sore, then a short, easy paced recovery ride would be fine. From what I've heard (and I think there was a thread on here about it recently), it's good to get a little blood flow back into the muscles; it will help flush out the lactic acid faster than if you just rest.

However, if the muscle is actually pulled then resting/icing might be a better idea. You say "it felt better this morning" from which I infer that it was painful last night after the class. If it was just regular soreness, then I'd expect it to hurt more today and tomorrow than it did last night. Sounds like you might have a minor pull; probably best to play it safe and give it a few days rest.

[Catrin]

If the muscle is just sore, then a short, easy paced recovery ride would be fine. From what I've heard (and I think there was a thread on here about it recently), it's good to get a little blood flow back into the muscles; it will help flush out the lactic acid faster than if you just rest.

However, if the muscle is actually pulled then resting/icing might be a better idea. You say "it felt better this morning" from which I infer that it was painful last night after the class. If it was just regular soreness, then I'd expect it to hurt more today and tomorrow than it did last night. Sounds like you might have a minor pull; probably best to play it safe and give it a few days rest.

It wasn't sore last night, I noticed it when I left the apartment to walk to my car this morning... it isn't sore except when I am actually walking, and then I have to be walking a few minutes for the soreness to present itself. It was better on my walk back from the store 30 minutes ago, I tried not to speed-walk (I am a fast walker). Hopefully it will be ready for my training session tomorrow nigh - as long as I can prevent the allure of my bike from enticing me out into that strong headwind then it should be ok.

I've just not felt anything quite like this before, which is why I mentioned it.

[azfiddle]

Catrin

Oh isn't it just the pits when the weather is nice and your bike is calling to you and something hurts and you can't ride? I am totally sympathetic here...

I've been mostly off my bike the last month after getting some knee pain, which seems to really be caused by a hip out of alignment... the PT gave her permission for me to take flat, easy rides (no hills!) again... but I am pining for the longer more challenging rides that I was enjoying before.

I'm sure it's excellent advice to stretch when you're warmed up- and probably a good idea to stretch after rides- I'm pretty sure that not ever stretching contributed to my problems ....

Feel better soon
Sharon

[zoom-zoom]

If the muscle is just sore, then a short, easy paced recovery ride would be fine. From what I've heard (and I think there was a thread on here about it recently), it's good to get a little blood flow back into the muscles; it will help flush out the lactic acid faster than if you just rest.

However, if the muscle is actually pulled then resting/icing might be a better idea. You say "it felt better this morning" from which I infer that it was painful last night after the class. If it was just regular soreness, then I'd expect it to hurt more today and tomorrow than it did last night. Sounds like you might have a minor pull; probably best to play it safe and give it a few days rest.

Yep, that's what I'm thinking. If it's just run-of-the-mill DOMS, then an easy workout the day after is actually better than doing nothing. But if it sounds like this might be more. RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) might be your best bet...and maybe even calling to your doc to make sure that it's not serious. I hope it's just a temporary tweak.

[Catrin]

Things are better this morning, though the tiniest bit of soreness remains. I bet it was a very light pull. Depending on how things feel during/after training this evening I will head out for a light ride afterwords.

Thanks to all for their tips!