Question

How do you treat plantaris muscle pain?

Answer 1

To treat plantaris muscle pain you can use the rest, ice, and elevation method also known as the RICE method which involves resting, applying ice to the plantaris muscle and using compression and keeping the leg elevated.

Medication that can be used to help with the plantaris muscle pain are NSAIDS like ibuprofen or even naproxen.

You can also use gentle and passive stretching and then later you can use eccentric strengthening exercises.

For support you can use crutches in the initial and painful phase.

Plantaris muscle pain is often caused by tears or ruptures during sports that are high impact such as running or tennis.

Plantaris muscle pain often presents itself with sharp pain behind the knee or in your upper calf.

Symptoms of plantaris muscle tears or ruptures that result in plantaris muscle pain are swelling, tenderness and difficulty walking.

Causes of plantaris muscle pain include.

Acute Rupture/Strain like a sudden, tearing sensation in your calf, often called "tennis leg", which occurs during jumping, sprinting or sudden changes in direction.

Plantaris muscle pain can also be caused by tightness and knots in the muscle belly, which is frequently caused by overworking of the muscle, like hiking or even running uphill.

A secondary injury can also cause plantaris muscle pain, as plantaris muscle pain can also occur alongside of Achilles tendon injuries or even ACL tears.

Wearing high heeled shoes or even running on hard or uneven surfaces can also cause plantaris muscle pain.

The pain with plantaris muscle pain is a sharp and intense pain in the mid calf or behind your knee and the sensation with plantaris muscle pain is a feeling that you were struck in the calf, which can also be sometimes accompanied by a pop sound that is audible.

The plantaris muscle pain can also cause mobility issues like difficulty walking with dorsiflexion, such as lifting your toes toward your shin and can also cause pain upon standing up.

The physical signs of plantaris injuries or other issues with the plantaris muscle are swelling, bruising which can occur sometimes but not always, and tenderness behind your calf.

Most plantaris muscle tears and injuries are minor and heal pretty quickly, often within 2 to 4 weeks with proper care and rest, although severe plantaris muscle tears and injuries can take longer.

If the pain gets worse or you have any severe swelling you should seek medical attention.