Propelling us forwards
The Calf Muscles
Image courtesy of Wilson (2021)
The calf muscles come in all shapes and sizes! Chunky calves, streamlined calves, bulky calves and shapely calves. Looking at how they are positioned and what activities we subsequently do to develop our calf muscle, tends to determine what they look muscles look like. Simple really, but also don't forget that body weight is another factor which influences calf muscle size. Read on and you'll find out how.
The set of three
So what muscles do we have around the back of the calf? There are three major players here - plantaris is a very small muscle which is deep to the calf, and its primary role is to provide feedback to the brain about calf position and movement, soleus is also a deep muscle which plantar flexes the foot (think pointing the toes in ballet) and gastrocnemius is the bulk of the calf which plantar flexes the foot too and also bends the knee as it crosses both ankle and knee joint.
Gastrocnemius and soleus are the two main muscles here, and soleus tends to be an endurance muscle (primarily Type I muscle fibres) - counterbalancing any tendency for us to fall forwards by bringing the leg back and keeping us straight. Gastrocnemius therefore is the calf muscle we all know about - largely because it's the one we see, giving the calf definition and adding the spring to our step. All three muscles converge to attach to the heel via the Achilles tendon - a particularly special tendon in the fact that it is the largest tendon in the body and coiled like a spring which allows it to take a huge strain - almost 4 times body weight when walking and 7.7 times body weight when we run! And how is this tendon powered - mostly by gastrocnemius of course.
Gastrocnemius - a muscle as cool as its name
Image courtesy of Ambross (2021)
Not only is the gastrocnemius supremely powerful at helping us leap, spring, run and walk, but it also has a huge role in venous and lymphatic return. The posterior tibial vein and the popliteal vein run between the gastrocnemius muscle and return blood from the foot to the heart. But there is a bit of a design error when we talk about veins - they aren't strong and muscular like arteries - although they do have valves that stop the back-flow - they have to push your blood against gravity without much oomph behind them. If you sit for long periods of time at your office chair, or on an aeroplane without moving your feet, then you'll notice you have swollen ankles and toes - so what's helping the blood and lymphatic fluids flow uphill? Your ankle muscles of course - gastrocnemius in particular.
But what happens if you're active if your calf muscles are doing ok? What if your venous return is fine too? Is there any need to pay the calves any more attention?
diPulse for downtime
By now we know that using the Hypertrophy program or the Body Building diPulse programs are great to build up those gastrocnemius muscles. We also know that Resistance or Endurance programs can be wholly beneficial to keep the hard-working, exhausted postural muscles in shape! But we haven't really addressed what we can do to help with circulation, to promote new capillary action in the muscles themselves and to improve muscle flexibility so our Achilles tendon remains fit under pressure.
Using the diPulse SMARTTIGHTS on the calf application focuses specifically on the powerful gastrocnemius. Alternatively, the SMARTSTRAPS are a convenient way to isolate the calf independently for training sessions or for post-training recovery.
Gastrocnemius can be over-worked and problems can ensue meaning an inability to train effectively for a period of time and often constriction within the calf. When using the diPulse Capillarization program, the Restoration program or the Muscle Flexibility program in the Cool-down and Muscle Revival category, you can ensure that circulation and muscle suppleness are taken extra care of. Calf muscles are prone to tighten and increasing the circulation with diPulse, coupled with regular stretching will show an impressive improvement and an easier post-training comfort to your calves. After a workout why not try the Lower limb Wellbeing or Muscle Pump Activation programs? Helping restore the circulatory demand on the calf muscles will keep them in prime condition for your next workout or sports event.
Always be assured, whatever your workout or cool-down needs, diPulse has you covered.
Thank you!!
We want to thank you, our diPulse community, for reading our 'muscle group' blog series and hope you have learned a lot about what muscles to focus on and why - often it's not the muscle groups we think! diPulse continues to take your health and wellbeing very seriously and would welcome all and any questions from this series. Please don't hesitate to contact us at support@dipulse.com for feedback, advice or to share your general comments. We love to hear from our customers!
Watch this space for more weekly blogposts.......!
References:
Amboss (2021) "Neurovasculature of the Lower Limbs" Accessed at: https://www.amboss.com/us/knowledge/Neurovasculature_of_the_lower_limbs#Z8cfd248f4c51daf2426179d16d1e019a
Giddings, VL, Beaupre,GS, Whalen, RT, Carter, DR (2000) "Calcaneal loading during walking and running" in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32 (3): 627-634
Wilson, C (2021) Gastrocnemius Muscle in Foot Pain Explored. Accessed at: https://www.foot-pain-explored.com/gastrocnemius.html
