The Core Mechanism
Sudden overload of the gastrocnemius or soleus from sprinting, hills, or accumulated fatigue.
The Real-World Triggers
Calf Strain rarely has a single cause. In runners, these are the consistent contributors:
- Sudden sprint or hill effort without warm-up
- Accumulated fatigue late in long runs
- Calf weakness — especially soleus
- Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
- Return to running too quickly after time off
Why Runners in Particular
Running concentrates repeated impact and load through the same tissues thousands of times per session. Calf Strain develops when that load exceeds the tissue's adaptation rate — usually because training spiked, recovery dropped, or strength didn't keep up.
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