{"id":7892,"date":"2019-07-05T06:56:05","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T06:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7892"},"modified":"2021-04-20T14:30:43","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T14:30:43","slug":"15-natural-ways-to-relieve-calf-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-natural-ways-to-relieve-calf-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Natural Ways to Relieve Calf Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sore calf muscles can be irritating, painful and debilitating at times, but believe it or not, this is a very common problem that can affect anyone at any time in their lives. It is especially common amongst athletes, for obvious reasons such as overuse or sudden, explosive impact and force. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the main causes of calm pain problems, in fact, are linked to vigorous exercise, partaking in regular sessions of heavy weight lifting, and the ever so arduous task of climbing up a few flights of stairs. That\u2019s the thing about calf pain you see, it can be caused by something as challenging as running a marathon, but also by something which is comparably innocuous such as the aforementioned stair climb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the cause, here are 8 of the most effective natural ways to give relief to sore calf muscles. Give them a try the next time you\u2019re at Everest Base Camp, AKA the bottom of the stairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \tAvoid straining the muscles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you should think about when it comes to calf issues is prevention as opposed to the cure, as this is always preferable with any health complaint. In an episode where a person may have sore calf muscles <\/a>as they are exercising or working out, they would be best advised to bring the session to an abrupt an immediate stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It just wouldn\u2019t be the wisest thing to strain your muscles any more than you already have done, and it goes without saying that this has the potential to lead on to some much more serious and challenging to treat muscle injury. When it comes to avoiding strains and other muscle-related injuries, it is of paramount importance that people listen to their bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warning signs that it tries to give us often come in the form of pain, so don\u2019t ignore the repeated messages your body is sending along those neural pathways, or you\u2019ll live to regret it.
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2. \tUse ice and a hot water bottle <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The use of cold and heat therapies is well-practiced and based on years upon years of research and even more experience. The ultimate aim with the use of either therapy <\/a>or with both in conjunction with each other is to try and relax any sore calf muscles with the incredibly soothing help of ice and the supremely relaxing potential of a hot water bottle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applying a treatment of ice in the form of either an ice pack, a bag of frozen peas or even in an ice bath or cryotherapy chamber will serve to help the body start reducing any inflammation or swelling of the affected muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This said, in rare cases of extreme soreness where it becomes apparent that the injury is beyond the help of even ice, it is a good idea to opt for the warmer choice of massaging the calf muscles with a hot water bottle. An alternative here would be to apply heating pads, but it depends on what you have at your disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. \tElectric bandage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not really too much of natural therapy in the sense of the natural world, the use of an electric bandage is still more than worth highlighting in a list like this because of its superb ability to help with calf pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best results that one can expect to gain via the use of an electric bandage is a reduction in inflammation <\/a>and swelling to rival that of ice treatments. In order to apply this therapy a person needs to tightly wrap the electric bandage right around the entirety of the sore calf muscles, or around the part of the muscle that is especially sore, if this is discernible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst it is important to wrap the calf tightly and firmly, whoever is using it needs to be careful not to wrap the injured area too tightly. A wrap that is too tight can restrict the blood flow to the area and even achieve exactly the opposite of what it is being used for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. \tDrink plenty of fluids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Things like muscle cramps<\/a>, which are a leading cause of calf pain can be largely attributed to dehydration and the subsequent loss of electrolytes that come with it. It is always advisable therefore, for a person to increase their consumption of fluids as this rehydration process proves vital in helping a person to find relief from any sore muscles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lots of fitness professionals and fitness celebrities seem to have taken this idea a little further than was perhaps necessary, using terms like \u2018take on more fluid’ or \u2018rehydrate appropriately’, when the simple terms like \u2018drink more water’ would usually suffice. Drinking fluids is seen by many people to be an absolute fail-safe, or a one size fits all solution to solving calf pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is an English soccer manager named Harry Redknapp who famously fined his players if they ever went down with cramps, on the count that it was their responsibility to keep themselves appropriately hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. \tRest your calf muscles in an elevated position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the well-practiced and well-researched principles of the rest, ice, compression <\/a>and elevation method which is often shortened to RICE, elevation has a key role to play in a person’s recovery from calf pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to elevate your calves correctly, a person needs to position their calf muscles in an elevated position in comparison with the rest of their body in order to limit the blood flow to the area and prevent swelling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a pillow, a cushion or even a box to rest the calf on is a great idea and the muscles can be rested directly upon it. Doing this, especially when done in accordance with resting, icing and compressing, will help to reduce any unwanted swelling and unbearable pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will also be hugely beneficial in the long term, in terms of increasing the mobility of your legs before, during and after any future recovery period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. \tSoothing balm for massaging (essential oils)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A person looking to use some beautifully smelling solution to their calf complaints could do a lot worse than by choosing to massage their sore calf muscles with a balm or even essential oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of essential oils <\/a>in the treatment of a range of different problems has boomed in the last few years, but the use of essential oils is far from a modern thing. For thousands of years, different civilizations around the world have relied on things like lavender and bergamot to help ease their aches and pains, whilst relieving their coughs and colds at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a soothing balm like this for a gentle massage is a great way to address the sorest parts of your calf muscles. If you can find someone who\u2019ll do the massaging for you, you\u2019re onto a winner and you should think about dropping the knee. Otherwise, book a sports massage or do it yourself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. \tEat fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter where you turn, whether it\u2019s for the treatment of rashes and sore throats, or for tired muscles and tired brains, fresh fruit and vegetables <\/a>are the naturally occurring little miracles we all love to hate. If you didn\u2019t go through a childhood of constantly being reminded to eat your greens and do not leave your carrots, did you even have a childhood?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is very true that diet plays an important role in helping to bring about some relief from sore calf muscles as well as all the other applications you\u2019ll have heard about. It is pertinent for everyone in the world to include fresh fruits, together with green vegetables in their diet as this can provide them with all of the necessary nutrients that a body needs to ensure a quick and successful healing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If as an adult you\u2019re still finding it hard to choke down the healthy stuff, you need to get a blender or a juicer and throw them down your neck as a drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. \tStretching to treat sore calf muscles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Proper and targeted dynamic stretching is often overlooked when it comes to looking after the calf muscles, but it is an incredibly important player in helping to prevent and even cure sore calf muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the vanity muscles in the body like the glutes and pecs, biceps and triceps, the calf muscles can go largely unnoticed and underappreciated, but they are vitally important in things like posture and peak performance. They are usually fine, until the point that they\u2019re not, which is why preparing the muscles for action with proper stretches is always a good idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This list of 8 natural ways to help relieve calf pain will hopefully get you on the way back to full fitness, but if you find that your calf pain is lingering or getting worse, it may be time to seek medical assistance, as the Achilles tendon<\/a> can sometimes be a source of calf pain, and this is something you really don\u2019t want to rupture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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