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1 day ago · 1. Muscle Cramping. The calves are a common area for muscle cramps (sometimes referred to as "charley horses"), which can cause severe calf pain while walking. Calf cramps can occur for a variety of reasons, such as: Dehydration. Electrolyte imbalance. Medication side effects.
- Overview
- What can cause calf pain when you walk?
- Muscle cramping
- Muscle injury
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS)
- When to see a doctor
- Treatment options for calf pain
Common causes of calf pain while walking include muscle cramps, bruises, or strains. You may be able to ease mild calf pain at home by resting, applying ice, and using OTC medications.
Your calves are located at the back of your lower legs. The muscles in your calves are vital for activities like walking, running, and jumping. They’re also responsible for helping you bend your foot downward or stand on your tiptoes.
There are a variety of reasons why you may feel calf pain when you walk. Some causes are due to common muscle conditions, while others may be due to an underlying health condition.
Below, we’ll explore what can cause this type of pain, the symptoms you may feel, and any preventive steps you can take.
Muscle cramps happen when your muscles contract involuntarily. They most commonly affect your legs, including your calves. These cramps often happen when you’re walking, running, or engaging in some type of physical activity.
Muscle cramps can have many causes, though sometimes the cause is unknown. Some of the most common causes include:
•not stretching properly before physical activity
•overuse of your muscles
•dehydration
•low electrolyte levels
An injury to your calf muscle can also lead to pain when walking. The most common injuries that can cause pain in your lower legs include bruises and strains.
•A bruise happens when a blow to the body damages the underlying muscle and other tissues without breaking the skin.
•A strain occurs when a muscle is overused or overstretched, causing damage to the muscle fibers.
Common symptoms of a calf muscle injury include:
•pain in the affected area, which often occurs with movement
•a visible bruise
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to areas like your legs, arms, and internal organs.
PAD is caused by damage to your arteries, which can be a result of:
•diabetes
•high blood pressure
•high cholesterol
•smoking
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is when your blood has trouble flowing back to your heart from your legs.
Valves in your veins typically help keep blood flowing. But with CVI, these valves are less functional. This can lead to backflow or pooling of blood in your legs.
With CVI, you may feel pain in your legs when walking that eases when you rest or elevate your legs. Additional symptoms can include:
•calves that feel tight
•varicose veins
•swelling in your legs or ankles
Lumbar spinal stenosis is when pressure is placed on the nerves in your lower back due to the narrowing of your spinal canal. It’s often caused by issues like degenerative disc disease or the formation of bone spurs.
Lumbar spinal stenosis can cause pain or cramping in your calves or thighs when walking. The pain may ease when you bend forward, sit, or lie down.
In addition to pain, you may also feel weakness or numbness in your legs.
Generally, lumbar spinal stenosis is managed through conservative measures, such as physical therapy and pain management. Severe cases may require surgery.
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is when a specific group of muscles, called a compartment, swells during exertion. This leads to an increase in pressure within the compartment, which decreases blood flow and leads to pain.
CECS most often affects people who do activities with repetitive leg motions, like fast walking, running, or swimming.
If you have CECS, you may experience pain in your calves during physical activity. The pain typically goes away when the activity stops. Other symptoms may include:
•numbness
•muscle bulging
•trouble moving your foot
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have calf pain when walking that:
•doesn’t improve or gets worse with a few days of at-home care
•makes moving around or performing daily activities difficult
•affects your range of movement
Seek prompt medical attention if you notice:
•swelling in one or both legs
The treatment of calf pain will depend on the condition or issue that’s causing the pain. Potential treatment may include:
•Medications. If you have an underlying condition that’s contributing to your calf pain, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat it. One example is medication to lower blood pressure or cholesterol in PAD.
•Physical therapy.Physical therapy can help improve flexibility, strength, and movement. Your doctor may recommend this type of therapy to help with conditions like:
•muscle injuries
•lumbar spinal stenosis
•CECS
- Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA
- Muscle cramp. Calf muscle cramps are usually temporary but can cause significant pain and discomfort. Causes of calf muscle cramps include: dehydration.
- Muscle strain. A calf muscle strain occurs when the muscle fibers in the calf tear either partially or completely. The symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the strain, but most people will experience sudden, sharp pain and tenderness at the calf muscle site.
- Arterial claudication. A person may experience calf pain due to narrowing or blockages in the arteries that supply blood flow to the legs. This is known as arterial claudication.
- Neurogenic claudication. Neurogenic claudication occurs when the nerves that go to the legs are pinched, affecting their ability to communicate with the lower legs.
Oct 16, 2024 · What causes calf muscle problems? Calf problems are usually caused by injuries. These can occur due to a: fall; sporting activity; direct hit to the area; There are other less common causes of calf problems like back problems or circulatory issues. Can calf pain cause problems anywhere else?
Mar 20, 2023 · Causes of peripheral arterial disease. PAD is a form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) because it affects the blood vessels. It's usually caused by a build-up of fatty deposits in the walls of the leg arteries. The fatty deposits (atheroma) are made up of cholesterol and other waste substances.
Jan 19, 2022 · The classic symptom is cramping, tight pain that's felt in muscles "downstream" from the narrowed artery. It can occur in the buttocks, thigh, calf, or foot, but occurs most often in the calf. The pain tends to come on with walking, gets worse until the person stops walking, and goes away with rest.
Sep 6, 2019 · But what if walking causes leg pain? Many people shrug off leg pain when they walk as a normal part of aging. In some cases, though, it’s the sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can put heart and brain health at risk.
