Gastrocnemius Calf Muscle Stretch

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Muscle:

Gastrocnemius, Tibialis Posterior, Plantaris, Peroneus Longus & Peroneus Brevis

 

Muscle Action:

  • Primarily plantar-flexion of the ankle joint & assists with knee flexion
  • Controls both ankle dorsi-flexion and knee extension eccentrically

 

Method:

  1. Stand facing a wall and place one leg to the rear in a fully extended position
  2. Keep both feet facing forwards and lean forwards on the leading leg
  3. Keep the rear leg fully extended and both feet flat on the ground
  4. Stretch forward until a stretch is felt at the back of the rear leg calf muscle
  5. Hold for 10-30 seconds & repeat 3 times or as instructed by the physiotherapist or fitness instructor
  6. To prevent muscle imbalance, always stretch both sides

Physiotherapy, Injury Prevention & Fitness Recommendations:

  • Avoid bouncing when the muscle is cold
  • Stop if the stretch causes pain
  • Perform the stretch in a safe environment to avoid the risk of a fall or injury
  • Recommended stretch for use within a warm-up or cool down
  • Tight gastrocnemius muscles may contribute to biomechanical injuries, lower limb problems or low back pain
  • Tight gastrocnemius muscles may develop due to specific footwear or biomechanical implications
  • As instructed by a skilled physiotherapist, the stretch is beneficial for injury prevention, to aid recovery from specific injuries, enhancement of the injury healing process, elongates shortened muscles, reduces soft tissue tightness and alleviates joint stiffness.

 

Please feel free to contact the Manchester G4 Clinic to speak to a member of the team for any questions that you may have.

 

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