Treatment of a Gastrocnemius Muscle Strain – Case Study

In this article, you will find:

• Treatment process for a gastrocnemius muscle strain

Patient profile

• Age: 30 years old
• Height: 196 cm
• Weight: 94 kg
• Position on the field: centre

Injury description

During an afternoon indoor training session, after warming up under the coach’s supervision, the player began ball drills. During one of the drills, while stepping back after landing, the player felt a sudden, stabbing pain in the calf. The distressing symptoms prevented the volleyball player from continuing the training session.

Diagnostic examination

Muscle tests were performed for both the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.

The player’s functional limitations prior to the start of therapy

• Pain while walking: 5 on the VAS scale
• Pain and discomfort during physical activity: 8 on the VAS scale

Treatment and Rehabilitation

No medications were used as part of the treatment; rehabilitation was performed using the TECARIS and POLARIS HPS devices.

The following parameters were used for TECAR therapy:

Additional Rehabilitation Treatments

• Pinopressure
• Manual therapy
• Kinesiotaping
• Dry needling
• Isometric exercises
• Eccentric exercises
• Activation exercises for the hamstrings, glutes, adductors, abductors, and extensors of the knee joint, as well as the calf muscles
• GameReady
• Massage and self-massage of muscle attachments in the plantar fascia region
• Stretching of the hamstrings and calf muscles
• Compression therapy

Treatment Summary

During the first week, therapy focused on reducing acute pain in the gastrocnemius muscle. In addition, the athlete experienced stiffness in the area where the gastrocnemius muscle transitions into the Achilles tendon. After the aforementioned seven days, the bothersome symptoms in these areas were completely resolved, and the athlete gradually returned to full training.

The final phase of the season is the most crucial period of the competition. The accumulation of micro-injuries significantly affects the athletes’ well-being and often manifests as injuries at the most unexpected moments. In addition to proper physical preparation, a well-structured training schedule, and a plan for indoor sessions led by the coach, a proper diet, as well as recovery and biological regeneration, are also crucial at this stage. There are many other factors beyond the control of the athletes and the coaching staff, which is why random, unforeseen incidents occur. Fortunately, an increasing number of physiotherapy techniques contribute to the faster diagnosis and treatment of such injuries.

Patients’ review

„I often experience stiffness in my calves as a result of heavy training loads and increased fatigue. This phase of the season was already taking a heavy toll on all the players, and for me, my calves are the most sensitive area. While stiffness at this stage was nothing new to me, the incident that led to my injury was a bit different. The sharp pain and discomfort even while simply walking—not to mention during training—were concerning. Fortunately, we quickly resolved my issue, and I was able to help the team in the most important games. ASTAR equipment played a key role in my return to the court, allowing us to expand our range of physical therapy techniques.”