Atrophied Calf

[Juanco20]

Been told by NHS physio today that much of my right calf muscle has wasted away due to lack of use following surgery. Been put on a 6 week rehab program to get it back on a par with the left, starting next Monday

Just wondering what exercises were particularly useful for anyone who has been through the same in, to try and get a head start. Don't want to waste time banging out tons of calf raises if there is something more effective as I've already lost/wasted 6 weeks due to NHS incompetency (long story)

[sherman]

I would assume walking or trying to put pressure on it would be a start. Also just trying to tense it will help to start with.

[mattikake]

Got my dad doing something similar to build his up for different reasons.

Walking, running, running with toe-strike/on toes, walking on tip toes, jogging upstairs, step-ups,

What's wrong with calf raises?

Weren't you suffering from APT? If it's brought on by sitting, this would not help calf muscles (a muscle needs to learn to relax as well as contract, or it'll behave like a tendon, not a muscle).

[Flibble]

Interested in this too, mine is atrophied after spending some time in a cast, can't really do any of the suggested exercises yet though as it's still not fully weight bearing.

[Juanco20]

Flibble said:

Interested in this too, mine is atrophied after spending some time in a cast, can't really do any of the suggested exercises yet though as it's still not fully weight bearing.

Get a good sports massage for a few weeks. Mine was so knotted up it was untrue. The increase range in movement from one massage was amazing. Easy to do yourself too:

Get a stool/box (anything to rest your foot on) and put it against a wall. Have your foot up to the wall and you toes just up on to the wall and bend your knee to the wall (make sure foot stays flat). The just get your thumbs into the calf until you cry.

[Flibble]

Mine isn't knotted at the moment, there's just nothing there, feels like jelly instead of muscle.