Calf

The calf muscles at the back of your lower leg power push-off when you walk, run, and jump, and they take a lot of load during sport. Calf strains are common — often felt as a sudden pain or tightness mid-run — and can range from minor to more significant muscle injuries.

Physiotherapy guides recovery from early protection through progressive loading, rebuilding the strength and spring the calf needs before you return to running and sport. In this section you'll find evidence-based grading and rehabilitation guidance for gastrocnemius and soleus strains and their overlap with Achilles problems — practical for clinicians and easy for patients and runners to follow.