Medi-Dyne Pain Solution and Treatment for Heel, Back, and Shins

How Do Tight Calf Muscles Occur?

The calf muscle group consists of the gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle. These muscles attach to your heel bone via the Achilles tendon and are some of the most used muscles in your body.

Calf muscles get tight, plain and simple. High heeled shoes, sitting for prolonged periods, standing all day, and even physical activity and exercise can all contribute to calf tightness.

Over and above the direct pain caused by tight calves, the main issue individuals with tight calves face is the fact that tight calves alter the way you walk. And when you change the way you walk, you run the risk of setting off a painfully serious chain of events (heel pain, plantar fasciitis, ankle pain, knee pain, lower back pain…).

The Chain Reaction of Pain

Tight calf muscles by themselves can be painful but they may also be symptomatic of weakness elsewhere in the leg. The body is an amazing network of highly interconnected parts. This is especially evident when it comes to performance and pain. When everything is in balance your interconnective chain of muscles, ligaments, and tendons all work together to allow for painless, almost effortless movement. Until a link of that chain is weakened or injured. But a strain, pull, or even tightness can set off a chain of events that, if not addressed, could lead to more complicated and painful results.

It's somewhat expected that a stressed or injured muscle causes some level of discomfort in the surrounding muscles. But, because of the nature of the interconnective chain, the impacting "domino effect" of that weak link may be greater than you realize. If you are experiencing tightness in your calf you may already have triggered a tightening of your hamstrings. The same is true for the opposite direction of the chain, in fact, one of the leading causes of heel pain (plantar fasciitis) is tight calf muscles.

Preventing Pain and Strain Before They Begin

Your calf plays a pivotal role in maintaining the health of interconnective chain of muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your leg. Maintaining flexibility in your calf is a critical element to avoiding other painful ailments such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, tight hamstrings, and even hip and back pain.

As with all injuries, prevention is your best defense. Prevention options include:

• 1) Calf Stretching. Stretching properly, starting slowly, and increasing gradually will be critical if you want to avoid Achilles tendonitis. To help maintain flexibility in the ankle joint, begin each day with a series of stretches and be certain to stretch prior to, and after, any exercise or excessive physical activity.

• 2) Interconnective Chain Stretching & Strengthening. While maintaining calf flexibility is key to avoiding other leg injuries, a stretching and strengthening routine that strengthens then entire chain, from your lower back to your feet will assist in retraining the neuromuscular system to perform more efficiently and effectively enabling you to avoid common injuries.

• 3) Orthotics And Heel Support. Bio-mechanically engineered inserts and heel cups which can be placed in your shoes to correct mis-alignments, or to bolster the support of your foot are available without a prescription. The temporary heel padding that these provide reduces the length that the Achilles tendon stretches each time you step, making it more comfortable to go about your daily routine.

• 4) Proper Footwear. Low-heeled shoes with good arch support and shock absorption are best for the health of your foot. Look into heel wedges and other shoe inserts to make sure that your everyday foot mechanics are operating under ideal conditions.

Medically Proven Solutions

CoreStretch®

Originally developed for use by physical therapists for clinical use.

The CoreStretchTM was developed to provide the deepest, most effective way to stretch your hamstrings and posterior chain while restoring muscle flexibility and interaction, thereby, increasing range of motion, reducing pain, preventing further injury, and speeding up recovery. The CoreStretch provides a stretch that both allows the tissues to relax and elongate developing the major muscle groups that make up the core.

ProStretch Plus™

The #1 Choice of Professional Athletes, Physical Therapists & Athletic Trainers.

ProStretch has been proven to provide a deep stretch that increases flexibility along the entire interconnective chain, delivering the long-term flexibility needed for a lasting heel pain solution.

Tuli's® Heel Cups

The World's #1 Selling Heel Cup. The biomechanically designed Tuli's Heel Cup provides immediate relief by cushioning the area of pain and elevating the calcaneous (heel bone) to take pressure off the shins, lessening the tension and allowing you to regain flexibility. Tuli's patented multi-cell, multi-layer "waffle" design absorbs shock and returns impact energy just like the system naturally found in your feet.

Tuli's Classic Heel Cups - Classic support for everyday use.

Tuli's Heavy Duty Heel – Maximum support for athletic shoes, lace up shoes, and work boots.

TuliGel Heel Cups – Soft gel supports heels in dress shoes.

Heavy Duty TuliGel Heel Cups – Maximum support in a soft gel.

NOTE: Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program. It's important to resume your usual activities gradually. If your body isn't completely healed, returning to your usual activities too quickly may only cause continued pain.