Skip to main content

Medial Gastrocnemius Injury, Tennis Leg, Sports Medicine

Daniel C. Herman, MD, PhD, FAAPMR, FACSM, CAQSM and Glenn H. Sapp, II, MD Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Musculotendinous disruption of varying degrees in the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, resulting from sudden dorsiflexion of the foot during an eccentric loading (Athlete is ...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Audible pop or tearing sensation when injury to the medial calf occurs

  • Pain in the area of the calf with radiation to the knee or the ankle

  • Pain with range of motion (ROM) of the ankle, partic...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Prevention/reduction of swelling: elevation, compression dressing/sleeve, and ice for 20 min 3 to 4 times a day 1[C]

  • Early weight-bearing (may need crutches and/or bilateral h...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Prognosis is excellent for the tennis leg sufferer to return to sports endeavors.

  • Noncompliance can prevent players from returning to sports for 3 to 4 mo.

  • Early and aggressive reh...

REFERENCES

1
Fields KB, Rigby MD. Muscular calf injuries in runners. Curr Sports Med Rep.  2016;15(5):320–324.
2
Millar AP. Strains of the posterior calf musculature (“tennis leg”). Am J Sports Med....

ADDITIONAL READING

Delgado GJ, Chung CB, Lektrakul N, et al. Tennis leg: clinical US study of 141 patients and anatomic investigation of four cadavers with MR imaging and US. Radiology.  2002;224...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Although the mechanism of injury is often during athletic events with quick or explosive motions, this injury may also occur during relatively minor activities.

  • In light of the occasion...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×