When walking or running our feet are moving, and it’s primarily the muscles in the lower leg doing the work. Some of these muscles are contracting and relaxing, 3 times in a standphase (the time a foot is in contact with the ground while walking or running.) Which is why there often are overexerted or tense muscles in the lower leg.

If nothing is done to this tension (hypertonic), the ligaments can be overexerted, where they are attached to the bones and even end up tearing, which is also what happens when tearing the achilles-tearing.

Find your injury in the list below:

Muscle strain in calf (Distensions ruptur)

  • Pain when loading the muscles.
  • Pain / tenderness when applying direct pressure on injury.
  • Reduced power in calf muscles.
  • In severe cases the internal bleeding may be visible.

Achilles tendon irritation (Tendinitis achilles)

  • Pain when loading or stressing the Achilles tendon.
  • Diffus hævelse af akillessenen.
  • In case of severe inflammation, the skin over the tendon is red and hot.
  • Crepitus (crackling or popping sounds/sensations under the skin) when moving.

Achilles tendon rupture

  • In acute cases the athlete often times will feel a snap.
  • Cannot walk or stand on toes.
  • Cannot move the foot upwards (dorsal flexion).
  • When pressure is applied to the gastrocnemius muscle, there is no reaction in the tendon (Thomsen test).
  • Increased swelling due to bleeding which will eventually cause discoloration of the skin on the back of the calf and foot.
  • Defect / hole in the tendon can often be felt.

Shin splints

  • Pain in an area along the inside of the tibia.
  • Exacerbation of the pain due to activity.
  • Redness, warmth and soreness in the shinbone area.