Calf bruising from running can cause symptoms like pain, swelling, and difficulty walking, often from overuse or injury. Treatment includes rest, ice, compression, elevation, and potentially seeking medical help for chronic cases. To prevent bruising, athletes should strengthen their calves, warm up properly, and learn proper running techniques.

1. Running - Bruised Calf
For Dummies

2. Symptoms
Running-related calf bruising can vary
from mild to extreme. It can be accompanied
by a variety of additional symptoms such as
stiffness, pain, tenderness, discomfort when
you tiptoe or push off with your foot, muscle
twinges, swelling, tightness, inflammation and
aching. You can also notice a popping sound or
sensation at the time of injury, New York
University's Langone Medical Center reports. It
can be difficult to walk or continue running due
to calf-muscle instability or weakness.

3. Causes
You can develop a bruised calf if
you overuse the tendons, muscles, cartilage
and ligaments in the calf by running
excessively, increasing the intensity of your
routine or by not taking proper breaks.
Running on unpaved roads or loose dirt can
also stress your limbs, resulting in bruising.
Bruising can occur if you strain or tear
muscles or ligaments in the calf by
stretching or stressing them beyond their
capability. Calf bruising can also occur if you
fall or collide with an object while running.

4. Treatments
Rest and place an ice pack against your calf to help constrict
the blood vessels and reduce bruising and other symptoms. Compress
your lower leg with an elastic bandage or sleeve. Elevate your calf to
help reduce blood and fluid accumulation and speed up the healing
process. If you have to walk, place a heel pad in your shoe to help raise
your heel and reduce strain from your calf. Seek medical attention if
bruising is chronic or does not subside with home treatment.

5. Prevention
To prevent additional calf bruising, strengthen your calves with exercises such
as calf raises. This will help them better absorb stress while running. Always
warm up and stretch out your calf muscles before you run. This will help make
the calf muscles stronger, more pliable and less likely to become injured
during exercise. Ask a coach or trainer to teach you the proper way to run to
help decrease stress on the calf muscles.