Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is the Soleus Muscle?FunctionConditionsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is the Soleus Muscle?
Function
Conditions
Treatment
The soleus muscle runs along the back of your lower leg. This large, powerful muscle starts from the back of your shin bone and attaches to your heel bone as part of theAchilles tendon. You have two soleus muscles located in each lower leg.
During activities like walking, running, and jumping, the soleus muscle is active, and injuring the muscle may affect your ability to perform these basic functions.
The word “soleus” comes from the Latin termsolea, which means sandal.
This article explains the anatomy of the soleus muscle, how it works, and common injuries or conditions that might affect it.
The soleus muscle originates from the back side of your uppertibia, or shin bone. Small slips of the muscle also arise from your fibular head and along the thin aponeurosis between yourfibulaand tibia. (An aponeurosis is a pearly white sheet of fascia that connects between two bones, serving to be an attachment point for muscles that require a large surface area.)
The soleus muscle courses down the back of your lower leg and is located just beneath your largergastrocnemiusmuscle. The two muscles join together at the Achilles tendon and insert on the back side of your heel bone, called thecalcaneus. Many professionals consider the two heads of the gastrocnemius (calf muscle) and the single soleus to be one muscle group called the triceps surae.
Zoff-photo / Getty Images
Function of the Soleus Muscle
The soleus muscles function to plantar flex your foot. Plantar flexion is the direction of motion that occurs as your foot and toes point down. The soleus works with your calf muscle to accomplish this task.
The gastrocnemius, a two-joint muscle, crosses your knee and your ankle. It is an active plantar flexor of the ankle when your knee is straight. The soleus, on the other hand, is a single joint muscle, crossing only the ankle. When your knee is bent, the gastrocnemius muscle is placed on slack and is not able to forcefully contract to plantar flex your ankle. The soleus is very active as an ankle plantar flexor when your knee is bent.
Your soleus muscle gets stretched a bit as you are walking and ascending and descending stairs. It also is placed on stretch during running and activities that require jumping and hopping. When this muscle is stretched, it stores energy which is then released when the muscle contracts and shortens.
The soleus a powerful muscle that is active with virtually all types of weight-bearing activities.
When you stand on one foot, the soleus muscle helps maintain proper balance. Since it is composed of mostly slow-twitch muscle fibers, it has high endurance and is able to withstand contractions and workloads for a prolonged period of time.
The soleus muscle also functions to help pump blood from your lower leg back to your heart. Your veins carry blood from your body to your heart. Inside these veins are small “one-way” valves. When your soleus muscle contracts, it acts like a sponge, pushing blood through your veins.
The one-way valves prevent blood from pooling back down into your lower leg. The action of the muscles acting as spongy pumps is often referred to as the skeletal muscle pump.
Conditions that Affect the Soleus Muscle
An injury to your soleus muscle often results in certain signs and symptoms. These may include:
If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit your healthcare provider right away to get an accurate diagnosis and to start managing your condition.
Soleus Tear
Soleus tears can occur due to sudden, forceful movements or overuse. They are more common in runners, triathletes, and people who jump, such as gymnasts and track and field athletes.
Signs of a tear include sharp pain in the calf, swelling, bruising, weakness, and trouble walking or standing on tiptoe. Doctors usually diagnose it with a physical exam and imaging tests like an MRI or ultrasound. It can be difficult to distinguish a soleus tear from a gastrocnemius tear. Sometimes these
Treatment for a soleus tear involves resting, applying ice, compressing the area, and keeping it elevated, along with physical therapy. In severe cases, surgery might be needed. Recovery can take a few weeks for minor injuries to several months for more serious ones.
Soleus tear injuries are sometimes called “tennis leg” because the movements in tennis, such as quickly pivoting, can cause calf injuries.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
The large vein that courses between your soleus and calf muscles may also be the site ofdeep vein thrombosis (DVT). This condition occurs when a clot blocks the flow of blood from your lower leg to your heart. If the clot travels through your venous return system and into your lungs, the condition, called apulmonary embolus, can be fatal.
Symptoms of a DVT may include:
If you have any of these symptoms, visit your healthcare provider or emergency room right away. A simple ultrasound test can be done to rule out (or in) a DVT.
Once your healthcare provider diagnoses a condition with your soleus and lower leg, it may be time to start the rehabilitation process to help you return to full function.
Other Conditions
The strong soleus is responsible for much of the workload of your lower leg and thus is subject to possible injury. Common injuries to the soleus include:
Treatment for Soleus Muscle Injuries
Various treatments are available for rehabbing a soleus injury. Your PT can help determine the best ones for you. Be sure to check in with your PT or healthcare provider before starting any exercise program or rehabilitation for an injured soleus or lower leg.
Immobilization
In general, the early phase of healing after a soleus injury may involve a few weeks of immobilization with a brace or walking boot. This immobilization allows for the soleus muscle to heal and minimizes stress to your injured muscle.
Keep in mind that periods of immobilization often cause secondary problems of tight muscles, loss ofrange of motion, and weakness in the muscle groups that were immobilized.
Once immobilization of your soleus has occurred for two to four weeks, it may be time to get things moving again.Your localphysical therapist (PT)is a good resource to help you properly rehab a soleus injury.
Massage
Massage techniques may be used as part of your soleus physical therapy treatment. Massage helps to improve local blood flow, increase tissue extensibility, and decrease pain. Massage may also be used to manually push fluid away from your lower leg in attempts to decrease swelling.
Basic goals of rehab for a soleus injury include decreasing pain and swelling, improving soleus flexibility, and improving strength and endurance to the muscle.
Heat and Ice
After a soleus injury,heatmay be applied to decrease pain and improve blood flow to the muscle. Heat promotes circulation, and may help bring in blood and nutrients to the injured tissue.
Ice is often used in the case of acute soleus strains and Achilles tears to decrease swelling and minimize pain and inflammation.
Ultrasound
Ultrasoundis a deep heating modality occasionally used in physical therapy. It may be used to improve local blood flow, increase tissue flexibility, and speed cellular mechanisms to promote healing.
Care should be taken though; ultrasound use in PT has fallen under heavy scrutiny due to the lack of high-power studies supporting its use.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation (e-stim)to your lower leg may be used to decrease pain that may occur with a soleus injury. The e-stim may also decrease swelling around your lower leg.
Kinesiology Taping
A newer treatment for musculoskeletal injuries is calledkinesiology taping. This involves placing strips of cloth tape over your injured body part. The tape serves different functions depending on how it is placed and how much tension is on the tape.
Kinesiology taping is often used to improve muscle function, decrease pain and spasm, or decrease bruising after a muscle injury.
Stretching and Flexibility Exercises
An important component of soleus injury rehab is to improve the flexibility and mobility of the muscle. Exercises to improve soleus flexiblity may include:
Keeping your knees bent during these stretching exercises ensures that the calf is kept on slack and the focus of the stretch is on your soleus.
When performing each stretch, hold the stretched position for 30 seconds, and be sure to stop if you feel any increasing pain in your calf and lower leg.
Strengthening Exercises
After a soleus injury, your rehab should focus on increasing the load-bearing tolerance of the muscle. This involves strengthening exercises for your lower legs and soleus.
Some exercises to strengthen your soleus may include:
Again, the bent knee position keeps your calf on slack and focus the workload on the soleus muscles of your lower legs.
Strengthening exercises are done for 10 to 20 repetitions, and you must stop if you feel any increase in pain.
Balance and Proprioception Exercises
Exercises to improve your balance can ensure that your soleus performs its job of stabilizing your lower leg properly. Exercises for balance may include:
You can expect the rehab for a soleus injury to take about four to eight weeks. Some courses of recovery are a bit shorter or longer depending on the severity of your injury.
Summary
The soleus is a powerful muscle that courses down the back of your lower leg and attaches to your heel bone as a part of the Achilles tendon. Injury to the soleus may result in pain and limited walking and running ability. Understanding the anatomy of the muscle, along with possible injuries and rehab guidelines, can help you keep your soleus healthy and functioning properly.
7 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.Machado E, Lanferdini FJ, da Silva ES, et al.Triceps surae muscle-tendon properties as determinants of the metabolic cost in trained long-distance runners.Front Physiol. 2022;12:767445. doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.767445Bohm S, Mersmann F, Santuz A, Arampatzis A.The force–length–velocity potential of the human soleus muscle is related to the energetic cost of running.Proc Biol Sci. 2019;286(1917):20192560. doi:10.1098/rspb.2019.2560Uhl JF, Gillot C.Anatomy of the veno-muscular pumps of the lower limb. Phlebology. 2015;30(3):180-93. doi:10.1007/s00276-008-0333-6Pedret C, Rodas G, Balius R, et al.Return to play after soleus muscle injuries.Orthop J Sports Med. 2015;3(7):2325967115595802. doi:10.1177/2325967115595802Draghi F, Bortolotto C, Ferrozzi G.Soleus strain: an underestimated injury?J Ultrasound. 2021;24(2):201-203. doi:10.1007/s40477-020-00555-7Douketis JD.Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT). Merck Manual Professional Version.Petruska A.Calf Strain. Boston Sports Medicine and Research Institute.Additional ReadingBryan Dixon J.Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2(2):74-7. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9045-8Prakash A, Entwisle T, Schneider M, Brukner P, Connell D.Connective tissue injury in calf muscle tears and return to play: MRI correlation.Br J Sports Med.2018;52(14):929-933. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-098362
7 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.Machado E, Lanferdini FJ, da Silva ES, et al.Triceps surae muscle-tendon properties as determinants of the metabolic cost in trained long-distance runners.Front Physiol. 2022;12:767445. doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.767445Bohm S, Mersmann F, Santuz A, Arampatzis A.The force–length–velocity potential of the human soleus muscle is related to the energetic cost of running.Proc Biol Sci. 2019;286(1917):20192560. doi:10.1098/rspb.2019.2560Uhl JF, Gillot C.Anatomy of the veno-muscular pumps of the lower limb. Phlebology. 2015;30(3):180-93. doi:10.1007/s00276-008-0333-6Pedret C, Rodas G, Balius R, et al.Return to play after soleus muscle injuries.Orthop J Sports Med. 2015;3(7):2325967115595802. doi:10.1177/2325967115595802Draghi F, Bortolotto C, Ferrozzi G.Soleus strain: an underestimated injury?J Ultrasound. 2021;24(2):201-203. doi:10.1007/s40477-020-00555-7Douketis JD.Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT). Merck Manual Professional Version.Petruska A.Calf Strain. Boston Sports Medicine and Research Institute.Additional ReadingBryan Dixon J.Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2(2):74-7. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9045-8Prakash A, Entwisle T, Schneider M, Brukner P, Connell D.Connective tissue injury in calf muscle tears and return to play: MRI correlation.Br J Sports Med.2018;52(14):929-933. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-098362
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.
Machado E, Lanferdini FJ, da Silva ES, et al.Triceps surae muscle-tendon properties as determinants of the metabolic cost in trained long-distance runners.Front Physiol. 2022;12:767445. doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.767445Bohm S, Mersmann F, Santuz A, Arampatzis A.The force–length–velocity potential of the human soleus muscle is related to the energetic cost of running.Proc Biol Sci. 2019;286(1917):20192560. doi:10.1098/rspb.2019.2560Uhl JF, Gillot C.Anatomy of the veno-muscular pumps of the lower limb. Phlebology. 2015;30(3):180-93. doi:10.1007/s00276-008-0333-6Pedret C, Rodas G, Balius R, et al.Return to play after soleus muscle injuries.Orthop J Sports Med. 2015;3(7):2325967115595802. doi:10.1177/2325967115595802Draghi F, Bortolotto C, Ferrozzi G.Soleus strain: an underestimated injury?J Ultrasound. 2021;24(2):201-203. doi:10.1007/s40477-020-00555-7Douketis JD.Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT). Merck Manual Professional Version.Petruska A.Calf Strain. Boston Sports Medicine and Research Institute.
Machado E, Lanferdini FJ, da Silva ES, et al.Triceps surae muscle-tendon properties as determinants of the metabolic cost in trained long-distance runners.Front Physiol. 2022;12:767445. doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.767445
Bohm S, Mersmann F, Santuz A, Arampatzis A.The force–length–velocity potential of the human soleus muscle is related to the energetic cost of running.Proc Biol Sci. 2019;286(1917):20192560. doi:10.1098/rspb.2019.2560
Uhl JF, Gillot C.Anatomy of the veno-muscular pumps of the lower limb. Phlebology. 2015;30(3):180-93. doi:10.1007/s00276-008-0333-6
Pedret C, Rodas G, Balius R, et al.Return to play after soleus muscle injuries.Orthop J Sports Med. 2015;3(7):2325967115595802. doi:10.1177/2325967115595802
Draghi F, Bortolotto C, Ferrozzi G.Soleus strain: an underestimated injury?J Ultrasound. 2021;24(2):201-203. doi:10.1007/s40477-020-00555-7
Douketis JD.Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT). Merck Manual Professional Version.
Petruska A.Calf Strain. Boston Sports Medicine and Research Institute.
Bryan Dixon J.Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2(2):74-7. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9045-8Prakash A, Entwisle T, Schneider M, Brukner P, Connell D.Connective tissue injury in calf muscle tears and return to play: MRI correlation.Br J Sports Med.2018;52(14):929-933. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-098362
Bryan Dixon J.Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2(2):74-7. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9045-8
Prakash A, Entwisle T, Schneider M, Brukner P, Connell D.Connective tissue injury in calf muscle tears and return to play: MRI correlation.Br J Sports Med.2018;52(14):929-933. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-098362
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