How do I avoid calf and knee pain after a weekend of tennis?

Asked by: Tricia Backous

Why do my calves hurt after tennis?

‘Tennis leg’ is an incomplete rupture of the inside of the calf muscle (Figure 1 and 1a). It is a typical tennis injury that often occurs in players in the 35 to 50 age group. This muscle injury may occur as a result of a sudden contraction of the calf muscles, for instance during a sprint.

How do you get rid of knee pain from tennis?

Treatment: Although minor knee injuries can be treated with RICE (and should be a wakeup call that you are doing too many high impact activities), more severe knee injuries may require a knee brace, crutches to keep your weight off your knee while it heals, medication, corticosteroids injections or physical therapy.

Is it normal to have sore knees after tennis?

This condition is considered an overuse injury because it develops gradually over time. Jumper’s knee symptoms include: Pain in the lower area of your knee area that runs from your kneecap to your shinbone before, during, or after sports play. Knee swelling, especially in the lower part of your knee.

How do you heal a tennis leg fast?

How do we treat tennis leg?

1. Advice on activity modification – a short period of rest on the muscle from activities which aggravate your symptoms is highly recommended to avoid further injury and allow the healing process to occur.
2. Pain management may include rest, ice, compression and elevation.

How do you warm up calves before tennis?

So many muscles you're gonna see Shawn and Hannah they're gonna pull their leg up and then lunge forward and then engage their core. So just really warming up the glutes the hamstrings.

What is a tennis calf?

“Tennis leg” refers to acute mid-calf pain, which is a common sports-associated injury, usually experienced by middle-aged persons, incurred with extension of the knee and forced dorsiflexion of the ankle [1].

How do I protect my knees when playing tennis?

And I believe that you should focus on continuing to move. So go ahead and move and hold for a count of two and then release. And then continue to move so you can do a number of reps. Doing it this

How do you strengthen your knees for tennis?

This muscle here and drop it down so I come up turn the foot out squeeze that muscle I want to hold it for ten seconds.

Should I wear a knee brace for tennis?

Definitely. You can run, exercise, and engage in sports with knee braces without any fear of harm. In fact, knee braces exist to prevent knee injuries, provide knee support, and aid injury recovery.

How do I relieve calf pain?

Care and Treatment

1. Rest: Avoid walking or running with calf muscle pain. …
2. Ice: Put an ice pack or cold compress on your calf muscles for 20 minutes every two hours. …
3. Compression: Apply a compression bandage or wrap to your calf. …
4. Elevation: Lift your leg into an elevated position, preferably above the level of your heart.

How do I stop tennis cramps in my calves?

Fit for tennis: How to avoid cramping your style

1. Diet is important. …
2. Eat snacks during matches to avoid the fatigue that can lead to cramp. …
3. Taking mineral supplements could also prevent cramp. …
4. Drink water. …
5. Stretch during every change-of-ends. …
6. If you do start cramping, gently rubbing or stretching your muscle could help.

How do you treat a strained calf muscle?

Management and Treatment

1. Rest: Stop running or physical activity to avoid further damaging the calf.
2. Ice: Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 20 minutes every two hours. …
3. Compression: Reduce swelling and fluid buildup by applying a compression bandage or wrap to the injured area.

Is walking good for calf strain?

For the first few days, reduce the amount of walking you do. Gently move your ankle regularly to avoid stiffness. Avoid forceful and strenuous activity such as running and jumping until you can walk without it causing any pain.

Should I massage a calf strain?

A correctly sized compression bandage can also be applied to help limit bleeding and swelling in the injured area. The No HARM protocol should also be applied which includes no heat, alcohol, running or activity, and no massage. This will help ensure decreased bleeding and swelling in the injured area.

Is walking good for a pulled calf muscle?

Severe swelling can make any pain and discomfort last a bit longer. Walking on recovering calf muscles can also increase recovery time.

How long should you rest a calf strain?

This injury consists of a more significant, but still incomplete muscle tear. This a partial muscle tear and requires 3 to 6 weeks of rest and recovery before you can return to full activity.

How can I speed up muscle recovery?

How to Speed Up Muscle Strain Recovery

1. Apply ice or a cold compress immediately.
2. Alternate ice with heat therapy.
3. Perform simple low-impact exercises and stretching.
4. Knee and calf massage for leg muscle strain recovery.
5. Elevate the injured muscle.

How do you stretch sore calves?

While holding on to a chair, keep one leg back with your knee straight and your heel flat on the floor. Slowly bend your elbows and front knee and move your hips forward until you feel a stretch in your calf. Hold this position for 30 to 60 seconds. Switch leg positions and repeat with your other leg.

Can tight calves cause knee pain?

A tight Calf muscle can cause a tendon strain that can present pain behind the knee and limit your knee flexion. Stretching out the tissue where the muscle joins the tendon can reduce the pain.

How long does a calf pain last?

Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury. A typical grade I calf strain will heal in seven to 10 days. A grade II injury will heal in about four to six weeks. A grade III calf strain may take about three months.

Does heat help tight calf muscles?

Heat helps reduce muscle pain, stiffness and spasms. It increases the blood flow to soothe the nervous system and relax your joints and muscles. Heat can be used before exercising to loosen up tight muscles. To apply heat, use a heating pad, a hot wet towel or warm shower.

Should I ice tight calves?

Muscle strains and sprains



Whether you’ve pulled a muscle in your calf or back doing yardwork or sprained your ankle playing basketball, it’s best to start either off with ice to ease inflammation (including swelling, redness or tenderness of the injury) and numb the pain.

Should you ice or heat a sore calf?

Ice can reduce pain and inflammation by decreasing blood flow to the affected area and is better for acute pain or injuries. Heat can soothe and heal muscles by increasing blood flow and is more beneficial for chronic pain or injuries.

Which is better ice or heat for knee pain?

Heat helps loosen tight muscles and joints and relieves pain and muscle spasms. If you have swelling, it’s best to use ice for 24 hours, then switch to heat. If swelling isn’t a problem, it’s fine to use heat when you first notice knee pain.

Should I exercise if my knee hurts?

If you’ve got sore knees, exercise might seem like the hardest thing you can do — but it’s also one of the best. “Exercise is one of the most important things you can do for knee pain,” says Dr. Lauren Elson, an instructor in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.