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. 2022 Mar 22;10(3).
doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.21.00183.

Calf Strain in Athletes

Wendy M Meek  1 , Michael P Kucharik, Christopher T Eberlin, Sara A Naessig, Samuel S Rudisill, Scott D Martin
Affiliations

Calf Strain in Athletes

Wendy M Meek et al. JBJS Rev. .

Abstract

»: Calf strain is a common condition. In high-performance athletes, calf strain contributes to a substantial absence from competition.

»: Player age and history of a calf strain or other leg injury are the strongest risk factors for calf strain injury and reinjury.

»: Although the diagnosis is often clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound are valuable to confirm the location of the strain and the grade of injury.

»: Nonoperative treatment is effective for most calf strain injuries. Operative management, although rarely indicated, may be appropriate for severe cases with grade-III rupture or complications.

»: Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the benefits of blood flow restriction therapy, deep water running, lower-body positive pressure therapy, platelet-rich plasma, and stem cell therapy for calf strain rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSREV/A824).

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