Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

On Friday I did a heavy workload of spike work at about 90% intensity or there abouts on the track. I was aware already and my coach also warned me that I'd get sore calves…and I did. No problem there. But on the left calf, sorta at the bottom of the gastroc and upper achillies area (soleous?) I had a pulling effect at the end of each stride (walking) throughout Saturday. Today (Sunday) it isn't pulling so much but is still very tight. When I showed my parents, my mum thought it looked a lil swollen and my dad thought it looked much tighter then my right calf. He suggested a muscle spasm and i'm inclined to agree with him. Does it sound like a muscle spasm? I can do a calf raise easily (hurts but strength is fine). If it is a spasm..what should I do to cure it and can I continue with normal training? Competing?

anyone?

have u been working out regularly before? did u suddenly increase intensity?

yo was the intensity increased suddenly…that may be it..consider taken a few days off

thanks for the replies guys, it sorted itself out.

Your both on 2 it though, I hadn't done any spike work on the track this season and so my coach decided I should be broken in, and although the volume and intensity weren't anything special, just perhaps a little 2 much maybe.

But yeh, as of now that problem cleared up well for my next training the next week cept I pulled my hammy there somehow lol.

I had something similar to this happen to me before and it clears up in about a week if you just stretch your achilles/calf area and lighten the activity a bit.

Superman16 - 09 February 2007 12:04 PM

.........But yeh, as of now that problem cleared up well for my next training the next week cept I pulled my hammy there somehow lol.

ouch man unlucky, u went from 1 injury to another?.. how bads the hammy?

bad enuf to end the season which ends next weekend anyways. I'v just got the whole winter to start training again, cept I'm getting surgery on my shoulder that I injured in rugby a year ago thats never improved sufficiently (ladrum tendon tear and an associated ganglion) lol so yay!

Superman16 - 21 March 2007 11:30 PM

bad enuf to end the season which ends next weekend anyways. I'v just got the whole winter to start training again, cept I'm getting surgery on my shoulder that I injured in rugby a year ago thats never improved sufficiently (ladrum tendon tear and an associated ganglion) lol so yay!

geez man- sounds like your've been in the wars

It definitely sounded like a spasm. Spasms can be quite disruptive to training and functional ability but my main concern with spasms is what happened to you…secondary injuries caused by compensation.

could muscle spasms accure when lets say somebody rolls their ankle a little in a rep.. then next rep they are worrying about it and without meaning to put more pressure on the other leg. eg longer, harder stride to minimize weight and usuage with the other ankle.. could the extra usage of the limbs cause a spasm?

mike - 22 March 2007 05:58 AM

my main concern…........is what happened to you-secondary injuries caused by compensation.

Yeh i agree. On a very similar concept I had pilonidal sinus (a type of disease thingy) surgery 2.5 years ago and my sciatic pain began to couur since that time. I wasn't allowed to sit for 8 weeks, nor run for 18weeks. My physio says it has created massive muscular imbalances that have been detrimental physically and it has certainly wrecked havoc on my posture. I was given no physio work to rebuild after and so I just went straight back in to competitive sport, and all my injuries have had a major relevance to back stiffness problems and whats not (ecept rolled ankles and my calf tear). So yeah, one problem has caused them all…at least thats the way I feel.