Home Remedies for Pulled Calf Muscles

Sometimes when we overuse or overextend our muscles, it causes injury to them. Perhaps one of the most commonly pulled muscles is the calf. Pulled muscles hurt and they may even swell. If you have a pulled calf muscle, try some of these home remedies to reduce the pain, inflammation, and swelling from the injury.

Warm Bath: One of the great home remedies for pulled calf muscles is taking a warm bath. A warm bath allows your calf muscle to relax. According to Wise Geek, warm baths increase the body's metabolism and blood circulation, which helps reduce pain and inflammation from pulled muscles. Warm baths can also decrease muscle spasms and stiffness. Additionally, the Wise Geek website suggests adding some Epsom salt to the bath because it helps decrease pain from pulled calf muscles as well.

Take Aspirin: The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies suggests taking some aspirin to reduce the pain and swelling from a pulled calf muscle. Alternatively, you could use an aspirin-based cream, like Aspicream in order to reduce the pain and inflammation of a pulled muscle locally. This is another good pulled calf muscle home remedy.

Wrap and Elevate: About's Sports Medicine section suggests wrapping a pulled calf muscle to help reduce the swelling. Additionally, elevating your leg will keep the blood from pooling at the injury, which can lead to swelling. It is a good idea to keep your leg elevated for the first 24 hours after you injure it.

Do Some Passive Stretching: Another good pulled calf muscle home remedy is to do some passive stretching once the acute pain in the muscle has gone away. One passive stretching exercise About's Sports Medicine section offers is to gently lift up your foot and toes, keeping your leg straight in order to stretch the calf muscle. Hold it for five to ten seconds and repeat five to ten times.

Rest: Resting is another good pulled calf muscle home remedy. For at least the first 24 hours after the injury, do not do activities that cause you pain, such as weightlifting, jumping, and running. Mount Sinai also recommends shortening your strides if walking causes your calf to hurt. Furthermore, do not return to your sport until all of the pain in your calf muscle has subsided.

If you pull a calf muscle, try one of these home remedies for pulled calf muscles. These home remedies can help you reduce the pain and swelling associated with pulled calf muscles.

Sources:

Wise Geek: What Are Some Home Remedies for A Pulled Muscle?:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-home-remedies-for-a-pulled-muscle.htm

Mother Nature: Muscle Pain:

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/47/96.cfm

About: Sports Medicine: Pain in the Calf Muscle from a Calf Strain or a Pulled Calf Muscle:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/legpainandinjuries/a/calf-strain.htm

Mount Sinai: Diseases and Conditions: Pulled Calf Muscle:

http://www.mountsinai.org/Other/Diseases/Pulled%20calf%20muscle