Tight Calf Muscles Could Be Related to Your Feet

It’s never a good idea to ignore tightness in the calves. Many people have tight calf muscles, which can actually greatly affect your gait by limiting your foot and ankle’s range of motion. Tight calf muscles can be a symptom of many conditions, but at Triad Foot & Ankle Center, we look at biomechanical problems that might be causing your calf muscles to shorten. A pulling or stretching sensation occurs with tight calves as a result the Achilles tendon and calf muscles stretch to accommodate a person’s stride. Left untreated, this can quickly lead to a painful condition called plantar fasciitis, as well as other injuries such as ankle sprains, shin splints, and more.

Tight calf muscles can be most painful or stiff first thing in the morning because the muscles in the foot and leg tighten overnight. One of the most effective ways to alleviate this is to regularly stretch your calves, which will decrease abnormal pronation, mid-foot collapse, and excess pressure. A few simple exercises, done daily, can prevent a whole range of lower limb injuries and increase the range of motion in the ankles and feet.

Night splints, worn while sleeping, can also assist with calf stretching and pain relief, and be recommended by one of our podiatrists. These splints are designed to control the amount of dorsiflexion, or the pushing of the foot and toes upward, which provides a gentle stretch to the Achilles tendon, calf muscles, and plantar fascia overnight.

At Triad Foot & Ankle Center, we treat patients with a variety of foot conditions. Click here to schedule an appointment or call 336-375-6990  to get to the bottom of what might be causing tight calves.