Have you ever heard of a muscle called the soleus? Unless you’re a doctor or a runner, you most
likely haven’t. The soleus is a muscle
in the superficial posterior compartment of the lower leg. It lies just below the gastrocnemius (calf
muscle). The tendon of the soleus muscle
joins that of the gastrocnemius to form the Achilles tendon.
The soleus aids the gastrocnemius in plantarflexion, or
pointing the toe. These two muscles work
together to allow for walking, running and dancing. The soleus is vital for maintaining upright
posture. If not for the constant pull of
the soleus, the body would fall forward.
Another important role of the soleus is to pump the venous blood from
the periphery back to the heart when in an upright posture. Due to the bony attachments of the soleus, it
is the main muscle for plantarflexion when the knee is bent. The gastrocnemius originates from the femur (thigh
bone), so a bent knee limits the effective tension of the muscle, leaving the
soleus to do all the work. When
performing tasks such as walking, the soleus is primarily used because it is
made mostly of slow twitch muscle fibers which allow for better endurance.
The most common injury to the soleus is a strain to the
muscle. A strain is micro-tearing of the
muscle fibers caused by trauma. Strains
of the soleus, or either calf muscle for that matter, can be caused by a direct
blow to the muscle or overstretching the muscle during activities like sports
where there is frequent jumping or changing of direction. These injuries usually occur when the muscles
are already tight due to a lack of stretching.
Stretching the soleus is super easy. Just make sure to warm up before you
start. If you stretch a “cold” muscle,
it can increase the risk of injury.
Since there are two muscles in the calf, there are two different
positions to stretch it…one for each muscle.
Almost everyone knows how to stretch the gastrocnemius. The picture on the left shows the knee
straightened out…that stretches the gastrocnemius. The picture on the right shows the knee bent…that
stretches the soleus. It is extremely
important to stretch both muscles to avoid injury and maintain proper
function.
There are several different
ways to treat a soleus strain. Icing the
lower leg may help relieve pain and swelling within the first 48 hours. The ice will help reduce any inflammation
created by the muscle fibers tearing.
After 48 hours, applying moist heat to the lower leg will help warm up
the muscle and increase blood flow to the area which facilitates healing. Performing self myofascial release using a
foam roller or a tennis ball can help work out any trigger points, fascial
points or muscle knots that may develop as the micro-tears heal. Applying kinesiology tape to the affected
area can also help with pain relief and healing. The tape can help decompress the tissue and
if applied correctly, can help reduce swelling.
If you experiencing excessive swelling, cruising or alteration of gait,
make sure to seek the help of a medical professional. At Pro Chiropractic, we specialize in sports
injuries and are well trained and well equipped to help with soleus
strains.
You are certainly not alone!
The
Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the human body.
It is the band of dense connective tissue that joins from calf muscles
at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone. This amazing tissue endures strain and risks rupture from running, jumping, and sudden acceleration or deceleration.
Because most Achilles tendon injuries take place in sports and there
has been a general increase in popularity of sporting activities, the
number and incidence of the Achilles tendon overuse injuries and
complete, spontaneous ruptures has increased during the last decades.