Trouble with calves after I/c break

[Ucandothis]

I was out for five weeks with an injury and now find I am having trouble getting back to fitness as my calf muscles tighten so much when running. Any suggestions before I give in and return to physio? I am gutted that I can't get back to my 5k time of around 33 minutes as had worked really hard for six months!

[davelinks Graduate]

Have you used a foam roller on your calves? Mine get tight, good stretching & plain roller seem to help...

[OldPossum]

I was given the following stretches by an osteopath. Stretch by lowering heels while standing on the edge of the step with straight legs and knees bent - try to really relax your leg into the stretch. Also foot up on the arm/back of a chair flex foot and reach forward till you feel the stretch in back of leg, repeat with foot straight, to the left and to the right . Also massage the underside of the foot as the calf is linked to the plantar muscle. They have certainly helped me.