Solutions for Cramps in the Calf Muscles or What to DO When Everything You Already Did Wasn’t Enough

Tall, fit older client who loves to run had to quit due to excruciating cramps in his calves. I hate to hear those stories. He’s been out of pain for awhile now, so I had encouraged him to go on out and try to break the ‘fix’. 3 miles later his left medial calf was complaining and his right metatarsal pad was aggravated to pain as well. Instead of calling me right away he waited 10 days until his next scheduled appointment. The pain had abated by then, but the problem was still there to be found.

If a client came in with gnarly calf muscles where would you work? On the calf muscles?

For sure we can make them feel better by mashing them to bring better circulation. His left medial calf was definitely overworking because the lateral calf was weak, but what is causing the inhibition of those calf muscles such that they are soooo weak that they cramp when used?

Two things were there to be found. His left QL was very short at the Iliac crest. The whole left lateral line from there down was affected. His lateral hip stabilization was weak his lateral calf was weak. This is normally the effect of a short QL. He was running on his medial calf and avoiding his left leg overall, which could be seen by the increased coloration and thickness of the right metatarsal pad. The right foot pain appears to be the result of avoiding putting weight through the left. Nothing new in this pattern either.

What I noticed that was new (to my thinking about his legs) was something I’d overlooked: the torque in his Thoracic spine. His upper Thoracic spine rotates right and flattens slightly between his shoulder blades. No one would know from looking. It feels like an old injury.

I reprogrammed the upper thoracic spine unwinding it to the left, linking the extensors of the right Thoracic spine (the short side) to the calf muscles on the left lateral (weak) line. When he stood up he was even taller than his normal 6‘ 5”. Sometimes the most profound work is so simple.

Finding exercises to stabilize the untwisting of the upper thoracic spine is the key to making progress with this man’s calf muscles. YUP! It’s ALL connected!!!! I want simple solutions for every tricky problem…