So, You Hurt Your Knee

By
Steven Low
Published: May 23, 2011Posted in: Articles, Featured, InjuriesTags: ACL, ACL tear, bursitis,
chondromalacia patella, iliotibial band friction syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, IT band, IT
band friction syndrome, IT band syndrome, IT tract, knee capsule, knee injuries, knee plica, knee
strain, lateral collateral ligament, LCL, MCL, medial collateral ligament, meniscus, meniscus
tear, osgood schlatter's, patellar tendonitis, patellofemoral syndrome, pes anserine, pes anserine
tendonitis, pes anserinus, pes anserinus tendonitis, plica syndrome, quadriceps tendonitis,
tendonitis, tibial tuberosity

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Introduction / To the top

Knee pain and injuries are common among weightlifters and even non-weightlifters. As I have
discussed in Shoes, Sitting, and Lower Body Dysfunctions and many other articles, a lot of this
stems from shoes and sitting and how they may have chronic detrimental effects on our bodies.
Combine this with poor technique, especially in lifting objects off the ground or during working
out, and you have a recipe for injury, pain, and inflammation.

This article is not going to be an end all article on how to solve knee pain and injury. Rather
there are categories of knee injuries that all need different attention depending on what has been
injured. From there we can determine what the best course of action that needs to be taken for
each individual because everyone is a bit different.
This article is going to be relatively brief on each because there are many topics I will have to
cover. I expect that if you have any questions they should be addressed to your orthopedic doctor
or physical therapist. Searching the Internet or asking people on the web for more information is
at your own risk.
Disclaimer: Any information contained herein is not professional medical or physical
therapy advice. Always consult your doctor or physical therapist before using such
information.
Categories of knee injuries / To the top
Knee injuries fall into a couple of categories depending on what types of tissue is injured, and the
pathomechanics of how the injury develops.
Where the pain is occurring during movement is generally a good indicator of what may be
wrong, and differential signs and symptoms can be used to further delineate what is wrong in
most cases.

Image courtesy of Adam Inc. (though extremely modified)

Despite the generalized locations of what you think is injured compared to the chart sometimes
the physiological issue or pain bleeds off into other areas. Also, there may be multiple
pathologies in a certain area since there are a lot of different muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc.
running through the area(s). I cannot say for sure (again, this is the Internet after all) that if you
have a pain in a specific area that it corresponds to the conditions. Thus, for a sure diagnosis you
should definitely see an orthopedic doctor or physical therapist on these issues.
Additionally, the pathology of knee injuries is very important. Often times for many of the types
of non-impact knee injuries there are also mobility or flexibility issues at the ankles and hips.
The knee sits smack dab in the middle of the two longest bones in the body, the femur and tibia.
Given this alignment any issues in the ankles and hips that create any odd forces are distributed
along the kinetic chain into the knees. Since the bones are so long any of the torques (Torque =
Force * Distance) at the adjacent joints are magnified significantly which means that something
as small as a bit of tightness in the ankles or hips can lead to a significant change in torques at
the knee which may exacerbate or even create a pathology.

The knee is between the longest bones in the body // Photo from http://kitssportschiro.com
If there is a loss of range of motion at some joints, the other joints or tissues will have to take up
the slack. This leads to many types of overuse or compensation injuries.
This means that in addition to any potential rehabilitation there needs to be an assessment of the
whole lower body up to the back to ensure that things are moving correctly especially with
recurring knee injuries. If you know you are tight or have a lack of mobility in certain planes this
may also be your wake up call to eliminate tight areas. You may be surprised how much
improving areas like the feet, ankles, hips, and back will improve your knee problems.
Notes:
1. If the pain is on the back of the knee then see the back of the knee section.
2. If the pain is over a particular muscle and not a tendon/ligament/connective tissue or deeper
structure then see the muscle strains section.
3. If you suspect your injury does not fall into any of these categories then see the other
pathologies section.
Given that you now know this head over to your particular section to see if we can possibly
figure out what is going on with your particular pain and dysfunction.

Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Categories of knee injuries
III. Quadriceps tendonitis
IV. Patellar issues
V. Patellar tendonitis
VI. Tibial tuberosity issues

VII. Knee capsule / plica / medial collateral ligament

VIII. Pes anserinus issues
IX. Fibular head / biceps femoris / Lateral collateral ligament
X. Iliotibial Band issues
XI. ACL issues
XII. Meniscus issues (lateral and medial)
XIII. Muscle strains
XIV. The back of the knee
XV. Other pathologies
XVI. Conclusions
If you suspect you have an injury that does not fall into any of the categories above see a medical
professional immediately. Also, if you have an injury which presents debilitating pain or presents
possible insidious neurological symptoms such as sensory or motor deficits see a medical
professional immediately. Motor deficits are critical enough that you may want to go to the ER
ASAP.
Quadriceps tendonitis / To the top

Image from http://orthoinfo.aaos.org

Quadriceps tendonitis is one of the prototypical overuse injuries. However, this injury is more
rare than patellar tendonitis unless the quadriceps muscles are (1) very tight and/or (2) have lots
of scar tissue and/or (3) have biomechanical issues.
If you are quad dominant from sitting a lot with marginal activity (feel quads burning a lot while
running, lifting, etc.) then this could be an issue that needs to be dealt with. Strengthening and
activation work for the posterior chain and learning how to squat correctly will help a lot in the
correction of this.
This is exacerbated more in women because they have a greater Q-angle which puts more torque
on the knee. If you would like to read more about this you can see Shoes, Sitting, and Lower
Body Dysfunctions which talks about this issue more in depth.

Photo from http://www.doctorkolstad.com/

Treatment
Thankfully, we have an article On Tendonitis for how to deal with both acute and chronic
tendonitis injuries.
Remember, if the injury is acute then the treatment(s) that are most effective are RICE protocol,
mobility work, light stretching, massage to the muscle, and potentially anti-inflammatories.
If the injury is more chronic then a protocol that work best are mobility, stretching, heat, friction
massage to the tendon, massage to loosen up the muscles, and eccentric exercise. Eccentric
exercise is one of the only proven non-invasive methods for rehabilitation of chronic tendonitis.
This is the most important factor of a chronic tendonitis regime. See the above tendonitis link for
more on this.
Learning how to squat correctly by engaging the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, etc.) will
help significantly take stress off of this type of injury. So that is definitely one of the things that
can be focused on aside from other modality treatment. Exercise should be focused on sitting
back on the heels and not coming up onto the toes because that puts more stress on the anterior
chain.
Patellar issues / To the top

Photo from http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/

Generally speaking, injuries to the patella or knee can need to be checked out by a doctor,
especially if the pain is from an impact injury.
Around the patellar there are a myriad of structures. If the pain is around the quadriceps tendon
insertion and patellar tendon origin then it may be related to those two overuse injuries
respectively.
If the pain is slightly under the apex (bottom of the patella) that may be an issue with the
infrapatellar fat pad.
If the pain is over the patella that may indicate overuse to one of the bursas in the area such as
the pre-patellar bursa seen in the picture above, or just below the kneecap with a bursa such as
the infrapatellar bursa (commonly referred to as clergymans knee).
Patellofemoral syndrome and/or chondromalacia patella is the other common cause of pain
localized around the patella. These two often go together because they are somewhat coupled in
the pathological etiology.
The knee is a delicate balance between forces that pull the patella laterally and medially, and it is
just so happens that the muscles that pull it laterally tend to get more emphasized by poor
biomechanics (e.g. inward collapsing knees during running, squatting, etc.) and are larger from
the start. Vastus lateralis is bigger than the vastus medialis/vastue medial obliquus.
Now, what happens is that when the patella is start pulled more laterally is it starts rubbing on the
lateral articular surface of the femur more and starts wearing down the cartilage both on the
patalla and femur. This process starts softening and breaking down the cartilage (chondro =
cartilage & malacia = softening) and will eventually cause a lot of pain and inflammation.
The reason why it does appear right away when this occurs is because cartilage has no
sensory/pain fibers located within it. So only when it gets to a higher level of damage by wearing

through a lot of cartilage and inflammation does your body start to feel the effects. This also
means that there must be significant time taken to correct biomechanics because usually these are
ingrained pretty well before the pain starts occurring so good care must be taken to teach proper
technique especially with females who experience this issue.
Treatment
Typically, bursitis and fat pad irritation can be treated with typical RICE protocol, massage, and
anti-inflammatories if necessary.
For the fat pad irritation if it is making the knee unstable taping can be an effective protocol to
ensure that any mobility or exercise does not aggravate it any further.
Generally, for any impact injury to this area it should definitely be checked out by a doctor to
make sure there is not any issues with the patella itself though.
With patellofemoral syndrome/chondromalacia patella there are multiple things we need to focus
on. First, bringing down the pain and inflammation is paramount. Like the bursitis this can be
done with the typical RICE protocol, massage, and anti-inflammatories if necessary.
Secondly, there must be loosening/strengthening of particular muscle groups. We want to
strengthen the vastus medialis, vastus medialis obliquus, hamstrings, and glutes. We want to
massage, trigger point, foam roll, tennis ball, etc. to loosen the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, IT
band, calves, hip flexors, etc.
Thirdly, we need to make sure there is enough range of motion at the ankles and hips. We want to
especially gain more dorsiflexion in the ankles with calf stretches, and we would like to gain
more hip extension by stretching the hip flexors as well as mobilizing hip internal and external
rotation.
Many of the specific stretching/strengthening exercises can be found here.
Lastly, we need to teach proper biomechanics by deemphasizing the anterior chain by sitting
back more in squats, teaching proper running technique, etc.
In addition, the knees must NOT be allowed to collapse in during any exercise that is taught.
This is paramount. One of the best ways to do this is to cue to spread the floor with the feet
during squatting, lunging, etc. if the knees want to collapse inwards. If this is ineffective, a band
can be placed to pull the knees inwards to force the the person to think about forcing the knees
outwards during the movement.
Since the glutes are one of the potent external rotators of the hip they should be evaluated for
weakness/inactivation especially if there is a lot of sitting during the day. Once you get them
active not only will it help correct the technique, but it will make you significantly stronger as
well.

Patellar tendonitis / To the top

Photo from http://www.arthealthcare.com/

Like quadriceps tendonitis, patellar tendonitis is one of the prototypical overuse injuries.
Commonly referred to as jumpers knee this type of injury occurs often with lots of activity and
improper biomechanical patterns.
If you are quad dominant from sitting a lot with marginal activity (feel quads burning a lot while
running, lifting, etc.) then this could be an issue that needs to be dealt with. Strengthening and
activation work for the posterior chain and learning how to squat correctly will help a lot in the
correction of this.
This is exacerbated more in women because they have a greater Q-angle which puts more torque
on the knee. If you would like to read more about this you can see Shoes, Sitting, and Lower
Body Dysfunctions which talks about this issue more in depth.

Photo from http://www.doctorkolstad.com/

Treatment
Thankfully, we have an article On Tendonitis for how to deal with both acute and chronic
tendonitis injuries.
Remember, if the injury is acute then the treatment(s) that are most effective are RICE protocol,
mobility work, light stretching, massage to the muscle, and potentially anti-inflammatories.
If the injury is more chronic then a protocol that work best are mobility, stretching, heat, friction
massage to the tendon, massage to loosen up the muscles, and eccentric exercise. Eccentric
exercise is one of the only proven non-invasive methods for rehabilitation of chronic tendonitis.
This is the most important factor of a chronic tendonitis regime. See the above tendonitis link for
more on this.
Learning how to squat correctly by engaging the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, etc.) will
help significantly take stress off of this type of injury. So that is definitely one of the things that
can be focused on aside from other modality treatment. Exercise should be focused on sitting
back on the heels and not coming up onto the toes because that puts more stress on the anterior
chain.
Tibial tuberosity issues / To the top

Photos from http://www.boostphysio.com/ and http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

Tibial tuberosity issues typically fall under what is called Osgood Schlatters disease/syndrome.
This occurs more in children because if they do a lot of physically exerting activity while their
bones are elongating during puberty there is a potential for the bone to start pulling away away
from the rest of the tibia.
As can be seen above this can be easily diagnosed by X-ray, and it will physically manifest as
bumps on the shins that will be sore to the touch.
Treatment
Typical doctor recommended treatment is the RICE protocol. Activity should be limited to nonpainful activities lest it be aggravated.
Like said in the above sections on tendonitis it is important to do soft tissue work to help loosen
up the quads to exert less stress through to the tibial tuberosity. In this respect, foam rolling,
massage, and light stretching should help significantly with the RICE protocol.
Posterior chain and proper biomechanics during running, squatting, lifting, etc. activities should
also be examined to make sure that more stress is not being put on that area. However, generally
this type of injury is more self limiting than the tendonitis issues.
Knee capsule / plica / medial collateral ligament / To the top

Photos from http://www.ortho.com.sg/ and http://www.floridaortho.com/

The tibial collateral ligament (MCL) is rarely injured unless there is an impact injury or severe
fall or incident such that the leg is bent into an awkward position. It is one of the stronger knee
ligaments since it is fairly big, so unless you have had one of these types of injuries I would say
it probably is not one of these issues. Usually a MCL sprain accompanies other knee damage. If
you suspect a problem with this ligament see a doctor.
The knee capsule and plica band can be easily aggravated given improper biomechanics or scar
tissue around the area from surgery. This is why the pictures above are of plica and not the
TCL/MCL because most type of pain here is likely not going to be of the ligament but rather the
capsule and plica especially if there is a lot of cutting/torquing movements and bigger Q-angle.
Treatment
So if the injury is suspecting MCL see an orthopedic doctor.
Since the knee capsule and plica are more connective tissue typical modalities are aimed at
reducing the aggravating inflammation. Thus, RICE, NSAIDs, and non-painful mobility and
mobilization of the muscles around the area are generally prescribed. Also, other modalities to
decrease inflammation such as iontophoresis or phonophoresis can be used, and as a last resort
there is surgery.
Pes anserinus issues / To the top

Photos from http://www.jointventurespt.com/ and http://kneespecialistsurgeon.com

The pes anserinus (goose foot) is a group of tendons of the sartorius, gracilis, and
semitendinosus muscles that insert medially and inferiorly (inside and below) to the knee joint.
To check to see if there is an issue with tendonitis or the pes anserine bursa this area can be
palpated for pain, soreness, and sensitivity.
To check if it is the right area it should be approximately below the MCL and band of plica that
sit directly medially along the knee joint. Additionally, if you are sitting and push your heel into
the ground and feel for the semitendinosus tendon along the inside of the leg and follow it then it
should and insert on the tibia in the position seen above.
Pes anserine tendonitis or bursitis can exist for a variety of reasons. From what I have seen it
tends to occur there is improper biomechanical patterns and general overuse.
The most common pathologies I have seen this occur in is if there are the issue of collapsing
knees (knees collapsing inwards) during movements such as squatting and running. Likewise, if
there is hip internal rotation immobility or a foot pathology such as flat feet where the feet start
to toe out or duck walk this may start to cause issues with the pes anserine (as well as many
other pathologies in this article).
Treatment
Like the rest of the bursitis and tendonitis issues the typical treatment lies with RICE protocol,
massage, and anti-inflammatories if necessary. Stretching, heat, and massage may be used on the
muscles that make up the tendons to help loosen them up to take pressure off of the bursas and/or
tendons to help improve healing.

If it is tendonitis we have an article On Tendonitis for how to deal with both acute and chronic
tendonitis injuries.
Remember, if the injury is acute then the treatment(s) that are most effective are RICE protocol,
mobility work, light stretching, massage to the muscle, and potentially anti-inflammatories.
If the injury is more chronic then a protocol that work best are mobility, stretching, heat, friction
massage to the tendon, massage to loosen up the muscles, and eccentric exercise. Eccentric
exercise is one of the only proven non-invasive methods for rehabilitation of chronic tendonitis.
This is the most important factor of a chronic tendonitis regime. See the above tendonitis link for
more on this.
Learning how to squat correctly by engaging the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, etc.) will
help significantly take stress off of this type of injury. So that is definitely one of the things that
can be focused on aside from other modality treatment. Exercise should be focused on sitting
back on the heels and not coming up onto the toes because that puts more stress on the anterior
chain.
Fibular head / biceps femoris / lateral collateral ligament / To the top

Photo from http://www.anytimehealth.com/

As seen above the biceps femoris as well as the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) both attack into
the head of the fibula which is why I grouped them together.
Like the MCL, the LCL is often rarely injured without a significant impact or twisting injury so
if you suspect as such you should see a doctor. If you are sitting you can check its integrity by
sitting in cross leg position. Then feel underneath the knee for the bump that protrudes on the
femur and the fibular head which should be below it. The ropey connective tissue that bridges
between them is the LCL.

The fibular head should move in 3 planes when you flex and extend your ankle. If it does not
move well then there may be an issue there if there is any type of pain in that area. When you
dorsiflex the fibular head should move up, forward, and rotate outwards. The opposite should
occur when you plantar flex.
To check the biceps femoris tendon you should put your knee at a 90 degree angle and locate the
fibular head on the outside of the leg. If you dig your heel into the ground you should feel the
biceps femoris tendon become taught and you can palpate if the area is painful, tender, or
swollen.
In regards to the biceps femoris tendon like the pes anserine tendons it can also suffer from
bursitis and tendonitis so if the issues are along that tendon as it runs into the fibular head then
you probably know what it is.
Treatment
If the issue deals with the LCL or the fibular head not moving correctly then see an orthopedic
doctor or physical therapist. Usually if the fibular head is not articular correctly it is a multijoint
issue dealing with the foot, ankle, knee, and possibly the hip/SI joint/low back as well. When one
thing gets gummed up so to speak other joints/connective tissues/muscles have to take up the
slack. Thus, get it looked at by a professional.
If it is tendonitis we have an article On Tendonitis for how to deal with both acute and chronic
tendonitis injuries.
Remember, if the injury is acute then the treatment(s) that are most effective are RICE protocol,
mobility work, light stretching, massage to the muscle, and potentially anti-inflammatories.
If the injury is more chronic then a protocol that work best are mobility, stretching, heat, friction
massage to the tendon, massage to loosen up the muscles, and eccentric exercise. Eccentric
exercise is one of the only proven non-invasive methods for rehabilitation of chronic tendonitis.
This is the most important factor of a chronic tendonitis regime. See the above tendonitis link for
more on this.
Learning how to squat correctly by engaging the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, etc.) will
help significantly take stress off of this type of injury. So that is definitely one of the things that
can be focused on aside from other modality treatment. Exercise should be focused on sitting
back on the heels and not coming up onto the toes because that puts more stress on the anterior
chain.
Iliotibial band issues / To the top

Photo from http://www.itendonitis.com/

IT band (friction) syndrome is a multifactorial developmental process that leads to pain and
inflammation in near the distal end of the IT band right near the knee joint. Since it is technically
connective tissue that is inflammed and aggravated it can be treated like a typical case of
tendonitis.
Its etiology is very similar to that of patellofemoral syndrome where improper biomechanics,
muscle imbalances, or anatomical issues can lead to its development. The various muscles that
connect into the IT band do various things. The tensor facsiae latae assists in hip flexion, internal
rotation, and abduction; the gluteus maximus is a prime mover of hip extension, abduction, and
internal rotation.
Also, what is less known is that a majority of the vastus lateralis sits directly under the IT band
itself as it extends fairly far up the lateral side of the leg. That means if the fascia between the IT
band and vastus lateralis is tight for whatever reason being it overuse or immobility then that can
also affect correct function of the IT band.
If these muscles get tight, overused, build up with scar tissue, etc. it can put a lot of tension on
the rest of the IT band. In addition, the improper biomechanics like collapsing knees will also
force a lot of stress onto the IT band because it is one of the only forces that prevents the knees
from collapsing inwards besides the vastus lateralis and the LCL. Now you can see why
patellofemoral syndrome (via vastus lateralis overdevelopment) is a similar issue to IT band
issues especially with poor biomechanics.
Treatment
The treatment is very similar to the patellofemoral issues since connective tissue and articular
cartilage have low blood supplies they need many things to help correct these issues.
First, bringing down the pain and inflammation is paramount. This can be done with the typical
RICE protocol, massage, and anti-inflammatories if necessary.
Secondly, there must be loosening/strengthening of particular muscle groups. We want to
strengthen the vastus medialis, vastus medialis obliquus, hamstrings, and glutes. We want to
massage, trigger point, foam roll, tennis ball, etc. to loosen the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, IT
band, calves, hip flexors, etc.
Thirdly, we need to make sure there is enough range of motion at the ankles and hips. We want to
especially gain more dorsiflexion in the ankles with calf stretches, and we would like to gain
more hip extension by stretching the hip flexors as well as mobilizing hip internal and external
rotation. In addition, in the case of IT band we need to stretch out the glutes and TFL.
Many of the specific stretching/strengthening exercises can be found here.
Lastly, we need to teach proper biomechanics by deemphasizing the anterior chain by sitting
back more in squats, teaching proper running technique, etc.

In addition, the knees must NOT be allowed to collapse in during any exercise that is taught.
This is paramount. One of the best ways to do this is to cue to spread the floor with the feet
during squatting, lunging, etc. if the knees want to collapse inwards. If this is ineffective, a band
can be placed to pull the knees inwards to force the the person to think about forcing the knees
outwards during the movement.
Since the glutes are one of the potent external rotators of the hip they should be evaluated for
weakness/inactivation especially if there is a lot of sitting during the day. Once you get them
active not only will it help correct the technique, but it will make you significantly stronger as
well.
ACL issues / To the top

Photo from http://www.youcanbefit.com/

I am only going to talk about ACL issues since PCL tears are quite a bit more rare.
First, if you suspect that you have an ACL tear you should see your orthopedic doctor to get
tested. There are some tests that can be used such as Lachmans, pivot shift, or anterior drawer
tests, but these should be performed by a profession who knows what they are looking for.
Generally, if you have an ACL tear there will be some unmistakable symptoms:
1. Pain within the joint. Usually sharp from an impact or contact injury.
2. Many times a pop can be heard when the injury occurs
3. Usually the knee will swell fairly significantly
4. Instability when walking or running. The knee will feel like it will suddenly give out on you.

Directly after an injury it may be hard to confirm a diagnosis since if there is pain and swelling
and general tightness of the muscles it may lead to some false positives.
However, diagnostic imaging is used in almost all circumstances to confirm before surgery is
scheduled.
Finally, I must note that meniscus injuries sometimes present like ACL injuries and often happen
concurrently with ACL injuries which means it is imperative that you seek proper medical
attention instead of trying to self diagnose yourself. You will not be able to treat them yourself
anyway which is why you should see an orthopedic doctor especially if your activities of daily
life or athletic performance are hindered.
Treatment
If you have an ACL tear and want to get back to athletics you should get the surgery. Talk to your
orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist.
You can live a perfectly normal life without an ACL as long as the surrounding musculature of
the knee is strengthened properly. A repair is not needed in these cases. In some instances,
athletes have been able to play on a torn or partially torn ACL for years without knowing they
did drastic damage to their knee because they are strong and the muscles were able to stabilize
the knee correctly.
If you have any questions about this type of injury talk to your physical therapist or doctor.
Listen to your PT for rehabilitation options.
Meniscus issues (lateral and medial) / To the top

Photo from http://www.riversideonline.com

Meniscus injuries are an interesting topic. Like I stated in the ACL section they can sometimes
present like ACL injuries and often happen concurrently with ACL injuries which means it is
imperative that you seek proper medical attention instead of trying to self diagnose yourself. You
will not be able to treat them yourself anyway which is why you should see an orthopedic doctor
especially if your activities of daily life or athletic performance are hindered.
However, there are some similarities and a couple differences you can look for that may point
towards a meniscus injury as opposed to an ACL.
1. Pain within the joint. Usually sharp from an impact or contact injury.
2. Many times a pop can be heard when the injury occurs
3. Usually the knee will swell fairly significantly. For a meniscus injury this may or may not
occur.
4. Instability when walking or running. For a meniscus injury this may or may not occur.
Additionally, the meniscal injuries may also present:
5. Occasionally or often the knee will lock often when trying to straighten or bend the knee
during any type of movement
6. The pain is usually localized towards one of the diagonal directions of the knee. The pain will
be inside the joint but it will usually be localized towards the front or back and off to one side or
the other. This is because the anterior and posterior horns of both meniscus are the easiest to
damage during an impact and/or with a twisting action that messes with the proper articulation of
the bone.
If you suspect a meniscus injury please see your orthopedic doctor to get a confirmation and your
options depending on the extent of the injury.
Treatment
There are a fairly large amount of different types of meniscus tears and a significant degree in the
extent of injuries. Sometimes they can be repaired; sometimes the menisci will have to be
removed.

Photo from http://www.foundrysportsmedicine.com/

There are some instances where you may not need arthroscopic surgery and the meniscus can
heal itself although they are more rare. Injuries in the white zone tend to have no
vascularization which means the body cannot repair the injury itself. However, if the injury is in
the red zone that means the body has some limited degree of blood supply there where it may
possibly heal the injury (depending on the extent of the damage).
However, even if the injury is in the red zone if the tear breaks through the rim of the meniscus
that may cause significant destabilization of the knee so there may be problems with non-surgical
options even if the tear can heal itself.
Again, your best bet is to see an orthopedic doctor and get assessed. They will likely do some
tests such as McMurrays and Appleys compression test as well as confirm it with medical
imaging such as MRI like they would with an ACL.
If you have any questions about this type of injury talk to your physical therapist or doctor.
Listen to your PT for rehabilitation options.
Muscle strains / To the top
Strained and pulled muscles will tend to be in the muscle belly of the tissues which means that it
will hurt right inside the muscles. Strains typically occur during lifting or activities where the
body is put under a lot of stress especially when fatigued.
If the pain is located in the quadriceps or hamstrings themselves they it is likely you have some
form of strain or at least tight muscles/scar tissue/adhesions in the muscle(s).

In the case of muscles strains or pulls unless it is extremely bad where your tissues are turning
black and blue and you absolutely need pain killers, you probably do not need to a see a doctor.
This is because you will most likely just get a prescription for pain killers and be told to rest.
However, if you are that worried about your injury then do not hesitate to see a doctor or
physical therapist. Better safe than sorry.
Treatment
I have already written extensively on muscle strains which will help you get started on the road
to recovery.
The back of the knee / To the top

Photos from http://www.fpnotebook.com and http://www.5skaggs.com

In almost all cases, especially if there is some type of bruising any back of the knee injuries will
likely be some type of muscle strains.
As you can see from the above image there is mostly only ligaments crisscrossing the knee joint,
and then muscles running around doing various actions on the knee. The plantaris tends to be
inconsequential but the hamstrings, popliteus, and both heads of the gastrocnemius all play
multiple roles in the proper function of the knee joint.
Hyperextension injuries are the most common cause of pain on the back of the knee, and if they
are severe enough the injury is likely to be the ACL which helps to prevent anterior translation of
the tibia on the femur.
Thus, the other most common type of injury is strains of the aforementioned muscles. But if you
have any doubts about the diagnosis, see a doctor or physical therapist.
Treatment
If you suspect ligamental damage, again see an orthopedic doctor or physical therapist.

If you suspect a strain I have already written extensively on muscle strains which will help you
get started on the road to recovery.
Other pathologies / To the top
There are multiple other pathologies which can be present with knee injuries. For example,
nervous system and radicular issues, fractures, cysts, cancer, etc.
Obviously, for everything I have not covered it is important to get checked out by a qualified
professional.
Treatment
Other problem(s) may show up even if you have a diagnosed pathology, so it is important to be
under the plan of care of a orthopedic doctor or physical therapist who you can trust to talk about
your injuries and any concerns you have about your rehabilitation.
Remember, there are good and bad doctors and good and bad physical therapists. If you dont
have a good one who can answer your questions and provide you with a good rehabilitation
program or options then you can always find another.
If you are an athlete specifically you may want to look for doctors and physical therapists who
work with sports teams.
To the top
I hope this article was helpful in determining any potential knee injuries and what some of the
options are about treating such dysfunctions.
Remember however that this is the Internet and even though this article may be right 90% of the
time in correctly figuring out a pathology it should not be used as a definitive guide for injury
diagnosis and treatment.
You should always talk to your orthopedic doctor or physical therapist for a confirmation on
diagnosis and treatment especially if you have any questions regarding a certain pathology and
subsequent rehabilitation process.
If you suspect you have an injury that does not fall into any of the categories above see a medical
professional immediately. Also, if you have an injury which presents debilitating pain or presents
possible insidious neurological symptoms such as sensory or motor deficits see a medical
professional immediately. Motor deficits are critical enough that you may want to go to the ER
ASAP.

Medial Gastrocnemius Strain

Author: Anthony J Saglimbeni, MD; Chief Editor: Sherwin SW Ho, MD

Background
A medial calf injury is a musculotendinous disruption of varying degrees in the medial head of
the gastrocnemius muscle that results from an acute, forceful push-off with the foot.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
This injury occurs commonly in sports activities (eg, hill running, jumping, tennis), but it can
occur in any activity. A medial calf injury is often seen in the intermittently active athlete, often
referred to as the "weekend warrior.
This condition has been termed "tennis leg" because of its prevalence in this particular sport, but
medial calf injury can happen in a variety of sports or other activities. One mechanism that
occurs is on the back leg during a lunging shot, in which the knee is extended while the foot is
dorsiflexed. This action puts maximal tension on the gastrocnemius muscle as the lengthened
muscle is contracted at the "push off," resulting in a medial calf injury. (See also the Medscape
Reference article Calf Augmentation.)
An unusual presentation of a medial gastrocnemius injury during namaz praying was reported by
Yilmaz et al, who performed a retrospective study of the sonographic and magnetic resonance
image (MRI) findings of patients referred over 7 years with leg pain and swelling.[7] Of 543
patients, 14 had a final diagnosis of medial gastrocnemius rupture that occurred during namaz
praying. Nine of 14 (64.2%) patients had incomplete tears at the musculotendinous junction, and
5 of 14 (35.8%) patients had partial tears.
The diagnosis in 4 of 14 (28.6%) patients was misattributed to deep vein thrombosis due to
clinical findings and presentation, associated fluid collection between the gastrocnemius and
soleus muscles was found in 11 of 14 (78.5%) patients, and isolated fluid collection between the
gastrocnemius and soleus muscles was seen in 1 patient.[7] The investigators suggested
ultrasonography and MRI can be used to correctly diagnose patients with medial gastrocnemius
injuries.
For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicineHealth's First Aid and Injuries Center.
Also, see eMedicineHealth's patient education articles Muscle Strain and Sprains and Strains.

Epidemiology
Frequency

International
Medial calf injuries occur more commonly in men than in women, and these injuries usually
afflict athletes and others in the fourth to sixth decade of life. Medial calf injuries are most
commonly seen acutely, but up to 20% of affected patients report a prodrome of calf tightness
several days before the injury, thus suggesting a potential chronic predisposition.

Functional Anatomy
The medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle originates from the posterior aspect of the medial
femoral condyle, and as it courses distally, the medial head merges with the lateral head of the
gastrocnemius. Further distally, the joined heads of the gastrocnemius merge with the soleus
muscle-tendon complex to form the Achilles tendon. The main function of the gastrocnemius
muscle is to plantar flex the ankle, but it also provides some knee flexion, as well as contributes
to the posterior stability of the knee and partially to the motion of the menisci with
flexion/extension of the knee. Throughout the belly of the muscle, the medial gastrocnemius has
several origins of tendinous formation. Most strains occur at this musculotendinous junction.

Sport-Specific Biomechanics
The medial calf injury usually occurs when an eccentric force is applied to the gastrocnemius
muscle, which usually happens when the knee is extended, the ankle is dorsiflexed, and the
gastrocnemius attempts to contract in the already lengthened state.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] This is the common
position of the back leg in a tennis stroke, and it results in the greatest force to the muscle unit;
but medial calf injuries can also occur during a typical contraction of ankle plantar flexion,
especially if the athlete is pushing or lifting a large weight or force.

History
See the list below:

An audible pop when the injury to the medial calf occurred is usually reported, and the
patient complains of feeling like a stick struck his/her calf.

The patient complains of pain in the area of the calf, which also radiates to the knee or
the ankle. In addition, the patient complains of pain with range of motion (ROM) of the
ankle.

The patient complains of a swollen leg that extends down to the foot or ankle, as well as
the associated color changes of bruising. (See also the Medscape Reference article
Contusions.)

Physical
See the list below:

Inspection
o Asymmetric calf swelling and discoloration, potentially spreading to the ankle
and foot, is noted on physical examination.
o If the stage of swelling has resolved, a visible defect in the medial gastrocnemius
muscle may be evident.

Palpation
o Tenderness is noted upon palpation in the entire medial gastrocnemius muscle, but
this tenderness is observed to be exquisitely more painful at the medial
musculotendinous junction.
o Depending on the degree of swelling, a palpable defect may be evident at the
medial musculotendinous junction; however, with extreme swelling, this finding
may not be appreciable.
o Palpation of the Achilles tendon should demonstrate an intact tendon.
o The peripheral pulses should be present and symmetric.

Provocative maneuvers: Moderate to severe pain is demonstrated with passive ankle

dorsiflexion (due to stretching of the torn muscle fibers), as well as with active resistance
to ankle plantar flexion (due to the firing of the torn muscle fibers).

Causes
See the list below:

Age/activity status: As indicated in the Background section, medial calf injuries occur
more commonly in the middle-aged recreational athlete. This population typically
continues to be physically active at a moderate to high intensity but not on a regular
basis, and these individuals are also likely to have maintained a moderate degree of the
muscle mass from their more active days. Yet weekend warriors seem to have started to
lose some of the flexibility they had when they were younger, resulting in a relatively
large gastrocnemius muscle that is less flexible than it had been, and on occasion, the
muscle is challenged with a ballistic or explosive force, leading to a partial or complete
rupture.

Deconditioned/unstretched muscles: The cold and unstretched muscles that recreational

athletes often use to compete with are very likely to rupture when challenged compared
with conditioned and stretched muscles. However, because medial calf injuries also occur
in the physically fit, the role of stretching in prevention is not completely understood.
This phenomenon may mean that force versus elasticity is the key formula, and if the
force overcomes the elasticity, even in a conditioned athlete, then a rupture or injury can
occur.

Previous injury: The athlete with recurrent calf strains is likely to have healed with
fibrotic scar tissue, which absorbs forces differently and is thus more likely to result in
rupture when the muscle is challenged.

Diagnostic Considerations
The following conditions can be confused with a gastrocnemius strain:
Baker cyst rupture
Deep venous thrombosis
Plantaris tendon rupture
Acute compartment syndrome after rupture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (posterior)
Posterior tibial tendon rupture or tendinitis
Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome
Anomalous gastrocnemius muscle rupture
A Baker cyst is a reactive outpouching of the knee joint capsule. The presence of a Baker cyst
implies chronic internal knee pathology, often arthritic in nature, but it may also include
traumatic meniscal pathology. The cyst is usually painless but often cosmetically unacceptable to
the patient. If the Baker cyst ruptures, the leg swells, and the pain is diffuse. This condition can
be confused with a ruptured gastrocnemius muscle.
(See also the Medscape Reference articles Baker Cyst [in the Radiology section], Knee Injury,
Soft Tissue [in the Emergency Medicine section], and Cystic Lesions About the Knee and
Limping Child [in the Orthopedic Surgery section].)

A femoral or popliteal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) can cause leg swelling, which can result
in leg pain. If this condition occurs in the same time frame as an acute leg injury, the 2 conditions
can be confused.
(See also the Medscape Reference articles Deep Venous Thrombosis and Thrombophlebitis [in
the Emergency Medicine section] and Deep Venous Thrombosis, Lower Extremity [in the
Radiology section].)
The plantaris tendon originates in the popliteal area, and this tendon is also a plantar flexor of the
ankle. If the plantaris tendon ruptures, the leg swells, and the resulting tenderness can be in the
same area as where a gastrocnemius strain would occur.
Achilles tendon injury can occur with the identical mechanism of a medial gastrocnemius
rupture. Because the ensuing fluid and edema may migrate proximally, the 2 conditions may
mimic each other. An Achilles tendon rupture results in an inability to plantar flex the foot, and a
more distal defect of the tendon is usually palpable. A Thompson test can be used to differentiate
the 2 injuries. The test is performed with the patient prone and the knee held in flexion. Then, the
gastrocnemius muscle is squeezed. A negative sign results in normal plantar flexion of the foot
and ankle. If the flexion is not appreciated, the test is positive and due to a disrupted Achilles
tendon. (See also the Medscape Reference article Achilles Tendon Rupture.)
Acute compartment syndrome of the lower extremity occurs after trauma, with accumulation of
blood or fluid in a closed compartment of the leg. The resultant pressure produces pain and
swelling, and if the posterior compartment is affected, this could clinically present similarly to a
medial gastrocnemius tear.
(See also the Medscape Reference articles Compartment Syndrome, Lower Extremity [in the
Orthopedic Surgery section], Compartment Syndrome [in the Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation section], and Compartment Syndrome, Extremity [in the Emergency Medicine
section].)
Chronic compartment syndrome results in affected individuals after a degree of exertion and
from vascular compromise with edema in the compartment of the leg. The pain that ensues can
mimic that of gastrocnemius muscle strains, but this condition becomes symptom-free after the
exertion is completed. (See also the Medscape Reference article Compartment Syndromes [in the
Sports Medicine section].)
The popliteal tendon courses posteriorly on the medial side of the leg. Injuries to this structure
can distribute pain in the same regions as a tennis leg injury. (See also the Medscape Reference
articles Pes Planus [in the Orthopedic Surgery section] and Athletic Foot Injuries [in the Sports
Medicine section].)

The popliteal artery may be entrapped during its course in the leg. The most common cause is an
anomalous gastrocnemius muscle. Typically, popliteal artery entrapment manifests during
exertion, and the symptoms of this condition are more consistent with the symptoms of chronic
exertional compartment syndrome.
(See also the Medscape Reference articles Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease [in the Vascular
Surgery section], Compartment Syndrome, Lower Extremity [in the Orthopedic Surgery section],
and Compartment Syndromes [in the Sports Medicine section].)

Differential Diagnoses

Achilles Tendon Rupture

Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome

Laboratory Studies
See the list below:

The ruptured medial gastrocnemius can usually be diagnosed clinically. Although

laboratory and imaging studies can also be used to evaluate some of the other diagnostic
possibilities (see Differentials and Other Problems to Be Considered), they are not
necessary.

Laboratory studies are usually not necessary in the workup of gastrocnemius strains.
They may, however, aid in the evaluation of a potential DVT, if clinical suspicion is
present.
o Complete blood cell (CBC) count: If a DVT is present, the platelet count may be
abnormal, but in gastrocnemius strains, the CBC count is normal.
o Coagulopathy panel: Before initiating treatment for DVT, prothrombin time
(PTT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), protein C, protein S, and Ddimer levels should be measured. Of course, these results all are within the
normal reference range in a medial gastrocnemius strain.

Imaging Studies
See the list below:

Radiographs
o In the face of a classic history and presentation for a medial gastrocnemius strain,
radiographs are usually normal and do not offer additional information for
treatment.
o X-ray films may be ordered to rule out an avulsion fracture, especially when the
patient describes an audible pop or any history of impact or trauma to the calf
region. (See also the Medscape Reference article Tibial Tubercle Avulsion.)
o Plain films of the leg and tibia/fibula are usually normal, except for the finding of
soft-tissue swelling.

Studies have shown that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound studies can
be useful in the diagnosis and/or follow-up of injuries to the lower leg.

o MRI is the most sensitive and specific imaging method, and this technique is able
to show the area of disrupted soft tissue better than other imaging modalities (eg,
computed tomography [CT] scanning, ultrasonography).[8, 9]

Koulouris et al retrospectively reviewed 59 MRIs from patients who had

sustained calf muscle injuries.[10] The authors reported that of the 39
isolated strains, gastrocnemius injuries were the most common (48.7%), in
which the majority of these (94.7%) involved the medial head, followed
by soleus muscle injuries (46.2%), including 2 cases of distal avulsions of
the plantaris. In cases in which there were dual injuries, the most common
finding (60%) was a combined gastrocnemius and soleus muscle injury.
Koulouris et al concluded that dual injuries to the calf region may be more
common than has been reported and such injuries may have a prognostic
significance. The authors also noted that in the literature, soleus muscle
injury is a rarely reported finding with ultrasonography.

o In areas where ultrasound experience is good, this modality may also demonstrate
the medial gastrocnemius injury and usually costs less than MRI. However,
limited MRI protocols, in which a few images of the suspected region of
pathology are performed, can have competitive pricing and demonstrate superior
images than ultrasonography. However, in emergency department settings, rapid
diagnostic ultrasonography can be used to evaluate the structure of the medial
gastrocnemius and to rule out some of the diagnostic possibilities, such as DVT
(see Differentials and Other Problems to Be Considered).[11]

Other Tests
See the list below:

In a Korean study, 22 patients with clinically suspected ruptures of the

medial head of the gastrocnemius under went ultrasound examination of
both the affected and unaffected limbs.[12] The authors reported that 7 of
the 22 patients were diagnosed with a partial rupture, and the remaining 15
patients were diagnosed with complete ruptures of the head of the
gastrocnemius. In addition, the authors noted fluid collection between the
head of the gastrocnemius and the soleus muscle in 20 patients, and they
reported the thickness of the fluid collection was significantly greater in
those patients with complete gastrocnemius medial head ruptures (mean:
9.7 mm) compared with those of the individuals with partial tears (6.8
mm). The authors concluded that ultrasound is a useful imaging modality
for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with ruptures of the medial
head of the gastrocnemius.

Other tests are not necessary for the diagnosis of an uncomplicated medial gastrocnemius
strain. If the suspicion of DVT persists, then further evaluation with Doppler
ultrasonography is indicated.

Acute Phase
Rehabilitation Program

Physical Therapy
Initial treatment of a medial calf injury includes relative rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE),
and early weight bearing, as tolerated. The initial treatment should continue for 24-72 hours. Ice
therapy is best instituted over a damp elastic wrap, which also provides compression. Preventing
the limb from hanging dependently prevents further swelling. The use of crutches with a
feathering gait and bilateral heel lifts is indicated if normal gait is compromised. Active foot and
ankle ROM can be carried out if there is pain-free ROM.
Medical Issues/Complications

Pain management should include analgesics as indicated. Caution should be used with
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during the acute injury phase, as these agents
can predispose the patient to increased bleeding and hematoma formation in the initial days after
an injury. Theoretically, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors may provide pain control without
the risk of bleeding in acute injuries, which is a concern with traditional NSAIDs.
Other Treatment

Ankle/foot bracing should be used to keep the ankle in a position of maximal tolerable
dorsiflexion. Studies have shown an increased rate of healing with this intervention.
As with any large muscle strain, hematoma formation can be complicated by heterotopic
ossification resulting in myositis ossificans. Studies do support the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medication, which may help prevent this.

Recovery Phase
Rehabilitation Program

Physical Therapy
Ice therapy and active resistance dorsiflexion exercises can be undertaken until the athlete is pain
free. Then, light plantar flexion exercises against resistance are initiated. Progression of therapy
includes reduction in heel-lift height and gradual introduction of stationary cycling, leg presses,
and heel raises. At this stage, ultrasonography, used with or without phonophoresis, and muscle
stimulation are also applicable. Massage techniques can help with the removal of interstitial
fluid. Apply compression dressing from the metatarsal heads to the gastrocnemius for the first 2
weeks. Partial weight-bearing ambulation should begin as soon as tolerable to maximize the
contact of the sole of the foot to the ground, then progress to increased cyclic loading, advanced

proprioception and balance training, and eventual full weight-bearing ambulation, with dynamic
change of speed and direction as tolerable.

Maintenance Phase
Rehabilitation Program

Physical Therapy
Once the athlete is pain free with full and symmetric ROM and full strength is regained, sportsspecific activities can be resumed. Strengthening and stretching of the injured area should
continue for several months to overcome the increased risk for reinjury due to the deposition of
scar tissue that is involved in the healing process.
A 2014 randomized trial reported that the use of shock-absorbing insoles during 3 weeks of
training on artificial turf resulted in a significant increase in the pain threshold for the medial
head of the gastrocnemius muscle.[13]

Medication Summary
Medications are directed at maintaining patient comfort in what can be a very painful injury of
the medial head of the gastrocnemius. Clinicians must carefully consider pain therapy in the first
48 hours, as decreased platelet activity may result in increased bleeding and larger hematoma
formationwith resultant effects on healing.
The simplest, yet least powerful of the recommended analgesics is acetaminophen. Typical doses
of 1000-1300 mg, 3-4 times daily can be used as needed. This agent does not affect platelet
function but may not greatly control pain.
To gain better pain control, more potent analgesics can be used, such as NSAIDs or an
acetaminophen/narcotic combination. As referred to above (see Medical Issues/Complications in
the Treatment, Acute Phase section), NSAIDs may enhance bleeding shortly after the injury has
occurred. These agents are also likely to cause symptoms of gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, and
they can result in mucosal injury and even bleeding ulcers. On the other hand, opioid analgesic
agents may cause GI side effects but not result in bleeding issues; these medications are
generally better at pain control, but opioid analgesics have the possible complication of addiction
or abuse.
Opioid medications come in various forms and various dosages. An alternative to the above
medications is to use a newer NSAID from the COX-2 inhibitor class. The new COX-2 inhibitor
drugs affect inflammation in a more specific manner by not affecting the prostaglandins that can
cause the above side effects; these agents have also been shown to provide equianalgesia to the
traditional NSAIDs.

Analgesics
Class Summary

Pain control is essential to quality patient care. Analgesics ensure patient comfort, promote
pulmonary toilet (ie, decrease pulmonary secretions, open the airways), and have sedating
properties, which are beneficial for patients who have sustained trauma or injuries.
View full drug information
Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Feverall)

DOC for pain in patients with documented hypersensitivity to aspirin or NSAIDs, with upper GI
disease, or who are taking oral anticoagulants. No benefit as an anti-inflammatory agent. No
effect on platelet function.
View full drug information
Acetaminophen with codeine 300/30 (Tylenol #3)

First-line agent for moderate to severe pain. Has no anti-inflammatory benefit. With the
combination of a narcotic and acetaminophen, pain control is much better than acetaminophen
alone.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors

Class Summary

COX-2 inhibitors promote control of moderate pain and anti-inflammatory effects, especially in
patients who have sensitivity to the traditional NSAIDs. Although increased cost can be a
negative factor, the incidence of costly and potentially fatal GI bleeding is clearly less with
COX-2 inhibitors than with the traditional NSAIDs. Ongoing analysis of the cost avoidance of
GI bleeding will further define the populations that will benefit from the use of COX-2
inhibitors.
View full drug information
Celecoxib (Celebrex)

Inhibits primarily COX-2. COX-2 is considered an inducible isoenzyme during pain and with
inflammatory stimuli. Inhibition of COX-1 may contribute to NSAID GI toxicity. At therapeutic
concentrations, COX-1 isoenzyme is not inhibited, thus GI toxicity may be decreased. Seek the
lowest dose of celecoxib for each patient.

NSAIDs
Class Summary

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) inhibit prostaglandin synthesis resulting in

decreased inflammation and pain.
View full drug information
Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn)

Naproxen is used for relief of mild to moderate pain; it inhibits inflammatory reactions and pain
by decreasing activity of cyclo-oxygenase, which results in a decrease of prostaglandin synthesis.
View full drug information
Indomethacin (Indocin)

Indomethacin inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins in body tissues by inhibiting at least 2

cyclooxygenase isoenzymes, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and -2 (COX-2). It may inhibit
chemotaxis, may alter lymphocyte activity, may decrease proinflammatory cytokine activity, and
may inhibit neutrophil aggregation. These effects may contribute to its anti-inflammatory
activity.

Return to Play
When an athlete will be able to return to play is predicated on the patient being pain free and
recovering full ROM. This period can last 1-12 weeks, depending on the degree of tissue damage
that was sustained. Strength testing should reveal that more than 90% of the uninjured side
accounts for the patient's dominance preference.

Complications
The most common complication of a medial calf injury is scar-tissue formation, which results in
chronic pain or dysfunction that is caused by a functional shortening of the muscle-tendon unit.
This scar tissue can then predispose to frequent reinjury. Another complication is the formation
of a DVT as a result of patient inactivity and trauma.

Prevention
A medial calf injury may not be preventable, but regular physical activity with maintenance of
flexibility in the gastrocnemius muscle may help to reduce one's chances of sustaining such an
injury.

Prognosis
If the above treatments are followed (see Treatment, Acute Phase, Recovery Phase, and
Maintenance Phase), the prognosis for recovery and return to sports after a medial calf injury is
excellent.

Education
Instructions for appropriate stretching and warm-up techniques should be provided to the patient
for the implementation of maximal prevention of reinjury.

References
1. Brown DE. Ankle and leg injuries. Walsh W, Shelton GL, eds. The Team Physician's
Handbook. Philadelphia, Pa: Hanley & Belfus; 1990. Vol 1: 448-9.
2. Canale T, ed. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 1998.
1413-25.
3. Glazer JL, Hosey RG. Soft-tissue injuries of the lower extremity. Prim Care. 2004 Dec.
31(4):1005-24. [Medline].
4. Johnson MD. Physiology of musculoskeletal growth. Sallis RE, Massimino R, eds.
ACSM's Essentials of Sports Medicine. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 1997. Vol 1: 534-8.
5. Pedowitz R, Saglimbeni A. The leg. Safran MR, McKeag DB, Van Camp SP, eds.
Manual of Sports Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven; 1998. Vol 1: 460-6.
6. Taunton J, Smith C, Magee DJ. Leg, foot and ankle injuries. Athletic Injuries and
Rehabilitation. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1996. Vol 1: 730-6.
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during namaz praying: an unusual cause of tennis leg. Comput Med Imaging Graph. 2008
Dec. 32(8):728-31. [Medline].
8. Darby J, Hodson-Tole EF, Costen N, Loram ID. Automated Regional Analysis of BMode Ultrasound Images of Skeletal Muscle Movement. J Appl Physiol. 2011 Oct 27.
[Medline].
9. Lindberg F, hberg F, Gransen G, Brodin L, Grnlund C. Pennation angle dependency
in skeletal muscle tissue doppler strain in dynamic contractions. Ultrasound Med Biol.
2011 Jul. 37(7):1151-60. [Medline].

10. Koulouris G, Ting AY, Jhamb A, Connell D, Kavanagh EC. Magnetic resonance imaging
findings of injuries to the calf muscle complex. Skeletal Radiol. 2007 Oct. 36(10):921-7.
[Medline].
11. Legome E, Pancu D. Future applications for emergency ultrasound. Emerg Med Clin
North Am. 2004 Aug. 22(3):817-27. [Medline].
12. Kwak HS, Han YM, Lee SY, Kim KN, Chung GH. Diagnosis and follow-up US
evaluation of ruptures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius ("tennis leg"). Korean J
Radiol. 2006 Jul-Sep. 7(3):193-8. [Medline]. [Full Text].
13. Madeleine P, Hoej BP, Fernndez-de-Las-Peas C, Rathleff MS, Kaalund S. Pressure
pain sensitivity changes after use of shock-absorbing insoles among young soccer players
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Aug. 44(8):587-94. [Medline].
14. Abellaneda S, Guissard N, Duchateau J. The relative lengthening of the myotendinous
structures in the medial gastrocnemius during passive stretching differs among
individuals. J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jan. 106(1):169-77. [Medline].
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