What causes calf muscle pain when walking?
Jan 09, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Shuai
Introduction
In general, leg muscle pain while walking may be caused by factors such as calcium deficiency, muscle fatigue, poor lower limb circulation, sciatica, or arthritis. If you experience any physical discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. In daily life, appropriate exercises such as jogging, hiking, cycling, swimming, and practicing tai chi can be beneficial.
Generally, leg calf muscle pain while walking may be caused by factors such as calcium deficiency, muscle fatigue, poor lower limb circulation, sciatica, or arthritis. If physical discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Calcium deficiency: Calcium is an essential ion for maintaining normal muscle contraction and relaxation. When blood calcium levels drop, muscle excitability may increase, leading to excessive muscle contraction, resulting in pain, fatigue, and weakness. Therefore, calf muscle pain during walking could be due to calcium deficiency. It is recommended to consume more calcium-rich foods such as milk, tofu, and kelp to promote calcium absorption.
2. Muscle fatigue: Prolonged or high-intensity labor or exercise may lead to overuse of muscles, causing muscle fatigue and injury. After overuse, muscles may experience soreness, weakness, and swelling. Symptoms can be relieved by reducing activity levels and ensuring adequate rest.
3. Poor lower limb circulation: Poor circulation means insufficient blood supply to the lower limbs. When blood flow is inadequate, lactic acid produced during muscle activity cannot be cleared promptly, leading to lactic acid accumulation. This buildup causes muscle soreness and pain, resulting in calf muscle pain while walking. Patients may take medications such as enteric-coated aspirin tablets, clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate tablets, or ticagrelor tablets under medical guidance to alleviate symptoms.
4. Sciatica: Sciatica refers to pain caused by compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve, usually due to conditions such as lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, sacroiliac joint arthritis, or other diseases causing nerve compression. This compression may cause pain, aching, and weakness in the leg muscles. Under medical supervision, patients may use medications such as eperisone hydrochloride tablets, celecoxib capsules, or mecobalamin tablets to relieve symptoms.
5. Arthritis: Arthritis may cause symptoms such as edema, weakness, and stiffness in tissues surrounding the joints. In severe cases, inflammation may spread to nearby muscles and soft tissues, causing pain, swelling, and trembling. Thus, calf muscle pain while walking might be caused by arthritis. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsules, glucosamine sulfate capsules, or Qingpeng ointment for symptom relief.
In daily life, engaging in moderate exercise—such as jogging, hiking, cycling, swimming, or practicing tai chi—can generally improve physical fitness and promote overall health.
