Medial head of the calf muscle

A Baker's cyst is an enlarged bursa located between the medial head of the calf muscle and the sheath of the semimembranosus muscle, the oblique gluteal ligament.

pain in the calf

This is a sign of an inflammatory process. When bruised, calf pain is caused by dehydration, stress and fatigue and is fatal. If a vein occlusion is visible, the symptoms are most likely due to a vascular disease. If your leg is swollen, choose a treatment plan for injuries, cold weather, long walks, or dehydration.

Even if your feet are 'buzzing' and there are no spots: – CT scan.

Venous insufficiency (VF)

– A puncture of the joint; You need to understand why this is happening. Try to determine the cause of blood vessel walls - vascular abnormalities.

Pain quickly, without side effects - in rare cases Before deciding what to do when calves hurt

Pain in the muscles of the legs – atherosclerosis. When this pathology occurs, inflammatory processes; Techniques to help relieve urine in the legs.

- Another common side effect that causes leg pain is infection; classic and modern - blood tests for leg pain?

superficial layer

Tibialis triceps surae (triceps surae muscle)

This is the only superficial layer muscle. However, it is a very large and broad muscle made up of several heads. It also forms the entire posterior and partially anterior contour of the tibia.

It is therefore assigned to its own layer.

The first two heads are combined into a single anatomical structure, the calf muscle. The third head is called the rectus muscle.

Of course, one can get confused here, so I have prepared a small diagram for you:

My regular readers will probably know that I have a particular soft spot for antiquity and the Renaissance. So I couldn't leave you without this beautiful engraving (it's Hercules of Farnese):

The calf muscle (musculus gastrocnemius)

It is a large and powerful muscle that is easily visible in athletic people. This muscle forms the broad upper part of the lower leg, which tapers slightly distally. The calf muscle consists of two heads: a medial and a lateral head.

The medial head of the calf muscle (caput mediale musculi gastrocnemii) is the medial part of the calf muscle. The calf muscle itself is easy to see - it's large and lies very superficially under the skin. Therefore, it is not difficult to find his psychic head. Just don't confuse the muscle itself with the common calf muscle tendon. In this drawing from my favorite Zolotek atlas, I highlighted only the belly of the medial head of the calf muscle:

deep layer.

Long finger flexor (musculus flexor digitorum longus)

The posterior tibial muscle group can be intimidating due to the number of muscles, but they are very logically arranged and easy to remember. We just discussed the triceps muscle, which, as you will recall, includes the calf muscle. The calf muscle looks like two large bundles that lie medial and lateral at the back of the tibia.

More or less the same pattern can be seen at depth. There are several muscles here, but first we'll get to know the ones that roughly reflect the location of the calf muscle. These are the long finger flexors and the long thumb flexors.

These two muscles are easy to learn if we remember that they are opposite the fingers that drive them.

That would make sense if the long flexors of the fingers (i.e. all but the big toe) were lateral and the long flexor of the big toe was medially, right? But here it's the other way around. You see, the long flexor of the fingers runs strictly medial:

This drawing is, as you might have guessed, from Gray's legendary atlas.

Origin: Middle third of the posterior surface of the tibia;

Approach: The tendon muscle passes under the behavior of the flexor muscle, passes across the medial knuckle and passes to the soleus muscle, where it divides into 4 bundles, each inserting on the distal phalanx of the corresponding finger;

Features: Flexion of the toes (except for the thumb).

Long flexor of the thumb (flexor hallucis longus muscle)

Use the formula we derived in the last step. The thumb is medial, so the muscle that flexes it is lateral. Here you can see this muscle well:

Epidemiology/Ethythology

A Baker's cyst, or popliteal fossa, arises from a primary problem of the knee joint that is accompanied by an inflammatory response caused by the formation of intra-articular bodies in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus, or by the appearance of particles, mainly of a polyethylene backing, after a knee endoprosthesis.

• A primary cyst is a mass unrelated to the pathology of the knee joint.
• A secondary cyst is an expansion of the synovial sac located between the tendons of the calf and semitendinosus muscles. Fluid enters through the canal that connects the normal synovial sac to the joint. This is the most common occurrence.

The size of the cyst can vary from very small (asymptomatic) to large, but changes in size are very common. A septum separating the semi-fluid and calf-shaped components may be present, particularly in small cysts. This can act as a valve, allowing fluid to enter the subclavian cyst instead of leaving it.

There are differences between cervical cysts in children and adults. In children, these are cystic masses filled with gelatinous material that develop in the back of the knee. They are usually asymptomatic and are not associated with intra-articular pathology. They often resolve spontaneously, although this process can take several years. In adults, Baker's cysts are often associated with other intra-articular pathologies and inflammation.

clinical picture

• Indefinite pain in the popliteal fossa.
• Swelling and volume increase in the thigh tendons.
• Tension in the area of swelling, which may vary with physical activity.
• Limitation of the range of motion in the knee joint.

Most cysts are located on the medial side of the popliteal fossa in the ankle capsule. Alternatively, the cyst can also arise in the popliteal sac, and the bulge is then in the lateral part of the popliteal space. In addition, a popliteal cyst can sometimes spread upward or forward.

The size of the cysts can range from small, clinically asymptomatic and not palpable, to large, bulky masses that cause visible swelling in the tendons. The size of the cysts and the intensity of the pain can limit range of motion. In rare cases, there are signs and symptoms of a meniscus tear that can be checked using the McMurray test.

Popliteal cysts can put pressure on other anatomical structures. Popliteal artery or vein compression can cause ischemia or thrombosis, respectively, while tibial or perianal nerve compression can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Also read the article: Bursitis of the lower leg. Read about Patellar Pain Syndrome here.

A ruptured cyst can cause pain in the back of the shin and even swelling; it can also cause itching in that area. These symptoms are more common in patients with inflammation than in those with a degenerative pathology.

Size principle or Henneman's principle

S-type DEs have a low activation threshold, so they activate first when the muscle develops force. Then the DEs of type FR are activated. Type FF DEs have a high activation threshold and are therefore the last to be activated when force develops in the muscle.

Since the muscle fibers belonging to different DEs are distributed throughout the muscle and not in a single bundle, the development of muscle strength is characterized by flow behavior. However, since connective tissue connections exist between adjacent muscle fibers, frictional forces must arise between the contraction of some muscle fibers (e.g., those belonging to DE type S) and the diastole of others (e.g., those belonging to DE type FF). , resulting in high muscle viscosity. GV Vasyukov (1967) showed that at low muscle tensions (30% of the maximum) the viscosity is maximum. With further muscle tension, when many muscle fibers are stimulated at the same time, the viscosity of the muscle decreases by leaps and bounds.

DE activation depending on the size of the external load

It has now been determined that different DEs are activated depending on the size of the external load. These data are presented in Table 3.

Table 33 - DE activation by different degrees of severity.

WHY IS IT NECESSARY
A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT?

When treating calf muscles, the biggest mistake is trying to get rid of the symptoms with useless painkillers only. These drugs - tablets, ointments and gels - only dull the pain, but the inflammatory process continues. A holistic approach is therefore essential.

Kinesiotherapy has a wide range of effective measures. Different tapes can be used. Depending on the mode of action, very good results can be achieved:

• normalization of blood circulation;
• Effect on the lymph after eliminating swelling and inflammation;
• elimination of painful sensations;
• Reduction of muscle tension.

If kinesitherapy is used in combination with other treatment and rehabilitation methods, an effective and long-lasting effect is guaranteed.

We offer you professional diagnostics with the most modern equipment. The doctors will examine you thoroughly and identify any weaknesses. With us you will quickly receive the necessary treatment and forget about the problem.

Our kinesitherapy center offers effective treatment. We use modern equipment and high-quality medicines. We provide comprehensive treatments in the cities: Zelenograd, Tver, Dubna, Klin. We guarantee quality treatment and positive results.

CONTACT THE PRACTITIONER:

Doctors often only look at the bones, ligaments, and joints when examining a patient. It is not mentioned musclesThe contractile function of these muscles is of no small importance in human life. Weakened muscles lead to bone thinning and bone deformities.

Unfortunately, current therapies make the situation worse, leading to even more pain, muscle wasting and a poorer quality of life for patients.

Effective treatment is unthinkable without muscle regeneration. The unique technique of kinesitherapy is a therapeutic effect based primarily on muscle activity when methodically performing a set of exercises on special simulators.

Patients perform the exercises while sitting or lying down, so that there is no unnecessary load on the joints and cardiovascular system, and ours Instructors correct the technique when performing the exercises. and monitor the correct execution of the exercises.

Remember that diseases of the spine and joints are not a punishment, and with the will of the patient and the right approach to treatment, everything can be fixed!

signs

The most common symptom of a fracture is a sudden, sharp pain in the injured area. The discomfort increases when the injured area is stretched and palpated. The pain may be accompanied by cramps, swelling, and bruising.

An injury to the upper or lower limbs can limit the mobility of the joint. You may not be able to straighten or straighten your elbow, make a fist with your fingers, or hold a small object.

The rift's discomfort subsides when the person rests. However, if the pain persists and the muscle loses mobility, one can speak of a fiber tear. Such injuries require immediate hospitalization and surgery.

Also read: Causes of heel bone exostosis, symptoms, treatment options

Rehabilitation after a calf muscle strain

It is advisable to massage the calf muscle before physical therapy in order to warm it up sufficiently before exertion. These exercises are individually selected by the doctor depending on the type of injury and the patient's body.

Approximate set of calf muscle exercises:

1. Sit on the floor or on a bed with your legs straight. Without bending the knee, place the heel of the sound foot on the ball of the foot under the toes of the injured foot. Apply moderate pressure and pull your toes toward you. There should be no pain in the shin. Hold this position for 15-30 seconds.
2. Stand in front of a wall and lean against it with your arms outstretched at chest height. Place the injured leg back, keeping the heel on the floor. Bend the other leg at the knee and put your body weight on it. Keep the heel of the injured foot pressed to the floor. Stay in this position for 30-40 seconds. Perform 8-10 moves.
3. Stand on your toes and raise your heels as high as possible. Then stand on your toes for 5 seconds and then lower yourself onto your whole foot. Repeat this 15 times.

Make sure that the calf muscles do not become tight, painful or otherwise uncomfortable during the exercise. If symptoms occur, please notify your doctor.

symptoms

• discomfort and pain behind the knee;
• a pulling sensation;
• Swelling, preferably visible in the straight leg;
• limitation of active range of motion of the knee due to pain;
• swelling of the leg with a vascular compression;
• all symptoms are aggravated by movement and stretching of the joint.

• pressure relief of the knee joint;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• therapeutic exercises;
• puncture of the cyst, suction of the contents and injection of glucocorticoids;
• arthroscopic or open surgical removal of the cyst;
• treatment of the underlying disease.

our advantages

• No overtreatment as some patients do not need it;
• preference for conservative methods;
• We not only treat the cyst, but also the underlying cause (meniscus tear, osteoarthritis, etc.).
• We remove the cyst by puncture to avoid surgery;
• If surgical treatment is required, we perform the operation using minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques.

A Baker's cyst is a depression between the semimembranosus muscle and the medial head of the calf muscle that collects synovial fluid from the knee joint. Despite the name, the disease was not first described by Baker but by Robert Adams in 1840. However, the greatest contribution to the study of this pathology was made by Baker, who in 1877 described a number of clinical cases.

Small cysts cause no symptoms and are often discovered as an incidental finding on examination. Large cysts cause pain, squeeze veins, and cause swelling in the leg. When the cyst ruptures, inflammation develops and spreads to the lower leg. Possible complications of a rupture:

• thrombophlebitis;
• Pinching of the posterior tibial nerve, which manifests as numbness or pain in the calf muscles;
• compression of the popliteal artery;
• infectious inflammation.

contraindications

If a bodybuilder patient desires an oversized implant and the surgeon believes that this is unrealistic without creating excessive internal pressure in the leg, the patient may be disappointed in the procedure. Also, a patient with hypoplasia of the leg tissues after polio who believes that the surgery will completely correct the cosmetic defect is not a good candidate for this procedure.

Of course, patients with circulatory problems or other serious medical problems related to the legs are also not the best candidates.

surgery

On the day of the operation, the patient is put under general anesthesia and the operation takes place in the supine position. An incision is made in the fascia of the calf muscle (fascia – connective tissue that envelops the muscle). A pocket is created between the fascia and the muscle itself using a special tool. This pocket is large enough to accommodate the implant.

In tibial augmentation with implants, any bleeding, although usually minimal, is closely monitored and stopped in time. The implant is then carefully inserted into the pocket and the procedure is repeated on the other leg. The effect of the lower leg augmentation is then assessed and if the result is good, the incision in the fascia is sutured.

course of the operation

The operation is not complicated. It lasts an average of 40 minutes, after which the patient is transferred to the recovery room.

Curoplasty is performed under regional anesthesia. The anesthetist uses spinal anesthesia for anesthesia. During the procedure, the patient's legs are not felt, and the patient can sleep or be awakened if desired. Sensitivity is restored two to three hours after the procedure.

The operation consists of several parts:

1. Immediately prior to surgery, markings are made in space to determine the limits of implant placement and the incision site. The operation is performed in the supine position.

2 The legs are treated with antiseptics. The surgical field is isolated with sterile towels.

3 A 3-4 cm incision in the saphenous fold separates the skin, subcutaneous tissue and tibial fascia. An implant pocket is created under the fascia of the medial head of the calf muscle according to the preoperative markings. The size of the implant pocket must match the selected implant model.

4 Insertion of the endoprosthesis and possible correction of its position. The implant is placed under the fascia of the medial head of the calf muscle.

5 Stitching of the surgical wound. The surgeon sutures the fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and then cosmetically stitches the skin.

6. The wound is closed with a medical bandage and compression stockings are put on.

rehabilitation period after the operation

The postoperative phase after the cruciate ligament plastic surgery is associated with slight tendon pain, which can be attributed to the tension in the tendon fascia that was sewn up. Immediately after the operation, the patient needs to walk in shoes with a heel of 5 cm to reduce pain. The patient is hospitalized for 24 hours. The sutures are removed on the 7th to 10th day after the operation and it is recommended to wear compression stockings. For the first week or two, it's best to take a well-deserved vacation to recover from the surgery.

As with any surgical procedure, complications can also occur with cruciate ligament plastic surgery. There are both general and surgical complications. In general, serious complications associated with lapoplasty are rare, but you should be aware of their occurrence.

bleeding – is a limited accumulation of blood in the implantation pocket, leading to postoperative pain and inability to stand on the fully weight-bearing leg. It occurs very rarely, between 0.5 % and 2 % of all operations performed. The best solution is to remove the hematoma and irrigate the implant pocket as soon as possible.

Burning in the surgical wound. An extremely rare complication that I have never encountered. Probably more theoretical than practical. In this case, it is necessary to remove the implant and return to surgery after treatment, but not before a year after the wound has healed. In this case, the treatment of the abscess is carried out according to the general principles of treating abscess wounds.

capsular contracture – is a specific complication of this procedure. This complication can be viewed as a reaction to an intolerance of the implant material.

Dense tissue forms around the implant, compressing it and distorting the contour of the lower leg. This is extremely rare. I have only seen 2 cases in my practice. The cause is hypersensitivity to the implant material.

• Long primer.
• abdominal muscle.
• extension and flexion of the foot.
• Long fibula muscle.
• tibial fasciitis.
• The flexor muscles of the foot.
• Exercises for the triceps tibialis muscle.
• Pronator - what does that mean?.