What causes calf muscle pain after physical education class?
Sep 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Introduction
Insufficient warm-up or excessive exercise can both exceed the limits of the calf muscles, leading to strain of the gastrocnemius muscle and even minor bleeding within the calf muscles, resulting in muscle pain. If severe calf muscle pain occurs after exercise and progressively worsens, making further activity impossible, it usually indicates an injury to the gastrocnemius tendon or even muscle bleeding due to overuse.
Soreness in the calf muscles after physical education class may be caused by overexertion, muscle strain, or other reasons. Specific causes are as follows:
1. Overexertion
Calf muscle pain after physical education class may result from sudden intense exercise, or from having too little regular physical activity followed by abrupt strenuous activities such as mountain climbing, leading to soreness in the calf muscles. Symptoms usually ease with rest. The accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles exceeds the body's metabolic capacity, causing muscle soreness and discomfort. If the pain is temporary and subsides with rest but reappears after exercise, it is typically due to excessive physical exertion.
2. Muscle Strain
Inadequate warm-up before exercise or excessive physical activity can exceed the limits of the calf muscles, resulting in strain of the gastrocnemius muscle, or even minor bleeding within the calf muscles, leading to pain. If severe calf pain occurs after exercise and progressively worsens, making further activity impossible, it often indicates an injury to the gastrocnemius tendon, or even muscle bleeding due to overuse. In such cases, patients should undergo calf ultrasound or MRI to rule out tendon strain or partial tendon tears.
Besides these causes, other factors may also lead to calf muscle pain. It is recommended to engage in appropriate regular exercise and consume more protein-rich foods.
