Sports injuries are always unwelcome, and calf strain is no exception. Your calf muscle, or gastrocnemius, is a powerful muscle that allows you to walk, run, and jump. However, sudden overstretching can lead to injuries such as muscle strains. A strain is different to a sprain, which involves the ligaments. Instead, strains affect the muscle or tendon and are a response to a rapid tear, pull, or twist.
As these injuries can take weeks to properly heal, many patients in Chicago suburbs are seeking acupuncture for calf strain from providers such as Life Balance Clinic in Glenview, IL.
What Causes Calf Strains?
In general, sudden overstretching of the gastrocnemius muscle is the underlying cause of calf strains. Their causes include:
- Sudden stops while playing sports or doing other exercise.
- Quickly pivoting and twisting the muscle.
- Accidental mistakes when jumping.
- Situations where your toes are forced upwards towards your body, such as hitting a curb when running.
The Best Way to Heal Strained Calf Muscles
Conventional treatment for calf strains involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation (the RICE protocol). Doctors also recommend avoiding alcohol.
However, acupuncture, and particularly laser acupuncture, can help to speed up recovery from injuries such as calf strain. One case study on calf strain and acupuncture showed that a rugby player was able to recover more efficiently, so he was able to return to full games and training sessions without pain. Other studies on acupuncture for muscle strain, including chronic strains, demonstrate improved healing time compared to the control group.
Better still, some research has found a benefit of acupuncture in reducing the rate of muscle loss during recovery from injury when exercise isn’t possible. This is because acupuncture may reduce expression of harmful substances and increase protein production.
Calf Strain and Laser Acupuncture: Chicago Treatment
How do calf strain and acupuncture go together? Acupuncture works by regulating the rate of blood and vital energy (Qi) flow through the body. This can help to relieve pain, improve circulation, and increase the expression of genes related to protein production in the muscles.
Dr. Vadim Dekhtyar, DACM is proud to bring years of experience to Glenview, IL, patients seeking treatment for calf strain and other injuries. To learn more about how laser acupuncture may benefit you, contact us today.