The calves are extremely important to the lower portions of the legs, as they allow individuals to move around and help stabilize the entire body. The calves have two muscles: the gastrocnemius and the soleus, which provide plantarflexion and stability at the ankle joint. These two muscles work together to prevent the upper body’s weight from leaning forward too much, so the individual doesn’t fall. However, when many people overuse their calf muscles, it can overstretch the muscle fibers in the lower legs and cause small nodules known as trigger points that can refer pain to the calves and ankles, affecting a person’s ability to walk, run, or jump. Today’s article looks at the soleus muscle, how trigger points affect it, and different methods to reduce pain while managing trigger points in the calves. We refer patients to certified providers who incorporate various techniques in the lower body extremities, such as lower leg and calf pain therapies that correlate with trigger points, to aid many people dealing with pain symptoms along the soleus muscles, causing muscle cramps and issues in the ankles. We encourage and appreciate each patient by referring them to associated medical providers when appropriate, based on their diagnosis. We understand that education is an excellent way to ask our providers intricate questions at the patient’s request, with the patient’s understanding. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., uses this information solely for educational purposes. Disclaimer
Do you feel a cramping sensation in your calves? Do your feet hurt when you are walking, jumping, or running? Or are you experiencing tightness in your calf muscles? When a person experiences calf pain, it could be due to trigger points that cause overlapping issues in the soleus muscles. As stated earlier, the calves have two muscles: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. The gastrocnemius forms the rounded shape of the calves and is a complex, superficial muscle. At the same time, the soleus is a large, flat muscle deep within the gastrocnemius and forms the calcaneal tendon (Achilles tendon), which can be mistaken for a nerve in the ankle. Studies reveal that the soleus muscle works together with the gastrocnemius, and these muscles constitute the plantar flexor. The soleus is part of a group of muscles known as the antigravity muscles. It acts like skeletal muscle and helps maintain good posture to prevent the body’s weight from falling forward at the ankle when standing.
The calves are essential for the body’s movement and mobility. When the calf muscles are overused due to repetitive movements or have sustained trauma, muscle fibers can tear, and trigger points can develop along the calves, causing referred pain to travel down to the ankles. Trigger points along the soleus muscle are tricky to diagnose since they cause referred pain to the surrounding muscles. “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction,” written by Dr. Janet G. Travell, M.D., mentions that, unlike the latent trigger points that can affect the gastrocnemius, active trigger points can affect the soleus muscle and cause tenderness referred to the heel. When muscle tenderness affects the heels, it can cause trigger points to mimic chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis. Additional studies reveal that musculoskeletal impairments, such as trigger points in the soleus muscle, could lead to biomechanical changes in the ankle. When trigger points cause hypersensitive spots in the skeletal muscle taut band, it can restrict the soleus muscle, preventing ankle dorsiflexion. Individuals with active soleus trigger points are prone to developing low back pain due to ankle dorsiflexion restriction, leading to them leaning over and lifting objects improperly.
Have you been dealing with pain traveling down from your calves to your ankles? Experiencing stiffness around your ankles? Or do you feel like you are about to fall? These pain-like issues are associated with trigger points along the soleus muscles in the calves. The soleus is one of the two muscles (the other is the gastrocnemius) that make up the calves and act as skeletal muscles to help maintain good posture in the body. When trigger points affect the soleus muscle, they can cause referred pain in the calves and mimic chronic conditions such as plantar fasciitis in the ankles. The video above explains where the soleus muscles are located, deep within the gastrocnemius, where the trigger points are causing referred pain to the ankles, and where they are in the soleus muscle fibers in the calves. Even though trigger points can cause referred pain in the affected muscle fibers, they are treatable and can be managed through various methods to help the calves.
Even though trigger points can affect the soleus muscles and cause referred pain to the ankles, different methods can reduce the pain and help manage trigger points in the calves. Studies reveal that when there are numerous therapies that can help manage trigger points, this can reduce pain in the soleus muscle by optimizing muscle function and preventing the development of chronic pain syndromes. In addition to therapies targeting trigger points, corrective actions and stretches can help relieve pain in the soleus muscle. Incorporating calf stretches, maintaining correct posture when sitting, wearing long, loose socks while sleeping, and wearing low heels can help prevent the soleus muscle from shortening and help manage trigger points from recurring in the calves. When people start taking care of their calf muscles, it can improve their ankle mobility and stability.
As part of the calf muscles and an antigravity muscle, the soleus works with the gastrocnemius to help with stability and plantarflexion of the ankles. This muscle is deep within the gastrocnemius and helps maintain healthy posture, preventing a person from falling forward at the ankles when standing. When the soleus muscles have been overused, they can develop tiny knots in the muscle fibers known as trigger points that can cause referred pain to the ankles. Trigger points in the soleus muscles can cause overlapping features in the calves by restricting ankle dorsiflexion, leading to low back pain when individuals lean forward. However, various therapies can manage trigger points through multiple treatments, reducing pain and restoring stability to the calves, enabling the individual to continue walking without pain.
Binstead, Justin T, et al. “Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Calf – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 29 May 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459362/.
Jurkovicova, Emma. “Soleus Muscle.” Kenhub, Kenhub, 14 Feb. 2022, https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/soleus-muscle.
Travell, J. G., et al. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: Vol. 2:the Lower Extremities. Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
Valera-Calero, Juan Antonio, et al. “Prediction Model of Soleus Muscle Depth Based on Anthropometric Features: Potential Applications for Dry Needling.” Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 May 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7277950/.