Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses5. Lumbar Spinal StenosisSelf-CareTreatment OptionsWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Self-Care
Treatment Options
When to Seek Care
Your calf muscles—comprised of thegastrocnemiusandsoleusmuscles—are responsible for pointing your feet forward, raising your toes, and propelling your body forward as you walk. Calf pain while walking can occur for various reasons, ranging from a mild muscle strain to a more serious underlying health condition affecting blood flow to your legs.
1. Muscle Cramping
The calves are a common area for muscle cramps (sometimes referred to as “charley horses”), which can cause severe calf pain while walking.
Calf cramps can occur for a variety of reasons, such as:
2. Muscle Injury
Muscle strains, or pulled muscles, can occur from excessive activity or overstretching (intentionally or from injury).Calf strainscommonly affect runners and people who play sports that require a lot of running (such as tennis or basketball).
Other symptoms of muscle injury can include:
3. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Peripheral artery disease(PAD) occurs when the blood vessels that deliver blood from the heart to the leg muscles (arteries) narrow. The most common cause of PAD isatherosclerosis, a condition that occurs when substances such as fat and cholesterol (plaque) build up in the walls of blood vessels.
Pain from PAD is at its worst while walking and climbing stairs and improves with rest.Left untreated, it can lead to changes in skin color and wounds that are difficult to heal due to poor blood flow. In severe cases, the affected leg might have to be amputated.
4. Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
Veins are blood vessels that return blood to the heart.Chronic venous insufficiency(CVI) occurs when the blood vessels can’t adequately pump blood back to the heart, causing it to pool in the legs.
Varicose veinsare the most common symptom of CVI. This condition causes lower leg pain that typically occurs while walking or at the end of the day and improves with rest. In addition to pain, CVI can cause a feeling of heaviness and pressure in the leg.
Other symptoms can include:
Lumbarspinal stenosisis a wear-and-tear condition in the lower back that causes the part of your spine that houses your spinal cord and nerves that supply your legs to narrow. Over time, it can lead to pressure on the nerves, causing calf pain when walking.
Pain from lumbar spinal stenosis often starts in the back. Once the nerves are compressed, you can experience burning pain that radiates down your leg, sometimes affecting the calf. Other symptoms can include numbness, tingling, and weakness in your leg muscles.
This condition often causes pain when standing up straight and walking. Leaning forward takes some pressure off the nerves, so pain is typically better when sitting down.
6. Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome (CECS)
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome occurs when muscles swell, causing pressure to build up in the area. Because the fascia does not stretch, this can cut off blood flow to the area. This condition can affect the calf after too much physical activity—usually running or military marching.
Pain from CECS worsens with activity and typically improves with rest. Other symptoms can include:
Self-Care to Relieve Calf Pain
Self-care treatments can help relieve calf pain, especially if a soft tissue injury, such as a muscle strain, causes your symptoms.
Start with the RICE method:
Gentle calf stretches can help reduce pain when walking.
Over-the-counternonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications(NSAIDs), such as Aleve (naproxen) or Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen), can help reduce calf pain and inflammation for soft-tissue conditions.
Causes of Calf Pain and When to Worry
Treatment Options for Calf Pain When Walking
Minor muscle injuries typically heal with home remedies. However, more serious injuries might requirephysical therapyto help restore range of motion and strength as you heal.In severe cases, some people need surgery.
Healthcare providers treat cardiovascular conditions that cause calf pain—such as PAD and CVI—with a combination of medications and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If your calf pain when walking is not improving with home remedies, see a healthcare provider. In some cases, calf pain can be a sign of adeep vein thrombosis(DVT)—a blood clot that can be potentially life-threatening if it travels to your lungs (apulmonary embolism).
In addition to pain, symptoms of deep vein thrombosis in the calf can include:
If you suspect you have a blood clot, seek immediate medical attention.
When Should You Worry About Calf Pain? (and What to Do Next)
Summary
Calf pain can also occur with blood clots that can potentially be life-threatening—if you suspect you might have this condition, seek immediate medical attention.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Muscle spasms.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains & other soft-tissue injuries.American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic venous insufficiency.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lumbar spinal stenosis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Compartment syndrome.Buerba RA, Fretes NF, Devana SK, Beck JJ.Chronic exertional compartment syndrome: current management strategies.Open Access J Sports Med. 2019;10:71-79. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S168368American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Foot and ankle conditioning program.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What Are NSAIDs?American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Deep vein thrombosis.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Muscle spasms.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains & other soft-tissue injuries.American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic venous insufficiency.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lumbar spinal stenosis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Compartment syndrome.Buerba RA, Fretes NF, Devana SK, Beck JJ.Chronic exertional compartment syndrome: current management strategies.Open Access J Sports Med. 2019;10:71-79. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S168368American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Foot and ankle conditioning program.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What Are NSAIDs?American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Deep vein thrombosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine.Muscle spasms.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains & other soft-tissue injuries.American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic venous insufficiency.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lumbar spinal stenosis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Compartment syndrome.Buerba RA, Fretes NF, Devana SK, Beck JJ.Chronic exertional compartment syndrome: current management strategies.Open Access J Sports Med. 2019;10:71-79. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S168368American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Foot and ankle conditioning program.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What Are NSAIDs?American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Deep vein thrombosis.
National Library of Medicine.Muscle spasms.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains & other soft-tissue injuries.
American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic venous insufficiency.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lumbar spinal stenosis.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Compartment syndrome.
Buerba RA, Fretes NF, Devana SK, Beck JJ.Chronic exertional compartment syndrome: current management strategies.Open Access J Sports Med. 2019;10:71-79. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S168368
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Foot and ankle conditioning program.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What Are NSAIDs?
American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Deep vein thrombosis.
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