Painful calf cramps and swelling while running- any solutions?

I’ve been doing a lot of research on this on the web, and I’ve had no luck. Maybe someone else has had this…

When I run, the outside lower muscles on my calves, right above my ankle, cramps and swells up. I mean visibly- at least one centimeter in every case. It’s extremely painful, and means I can only limp. After about two miles of walking it tends to work out, and I can then run for a bit. Yes, I stretch out quite a bit before I try to run, every time- but I’ve been unable to find a stretch that seems to work on that particular muscle.

I’ve gotten new shoes, and it keeps happening- even shoes that have been fitted to me at a very reputable running shop here in Austin. While comfortable, I still get the cramps. My doctor had no clue whatsoever, and nobody I’ve talked to has heard of this. The next step is likely to be a physical therapist, if all else fails.

I used to run back in high school- and I never had this, then. It’s very disturbing. It’s also the main reason I placed so poorly in the triathlon I ran this last weekend.

Any advice would be appreciated- thanks!

FWIW, the muscle that I think you’re describing is called the soleus. You might have better luck finding a stretch if you search for it by name. If you can do a normal calf stretch with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle, that should do it, but that might be a little tough.

Potassium. That is what people have told me. Eat bananas.

Try this simple stretch:

Stand on a curb using just your toes, and slowly lower your heels to the street. Hold onto a streetsign for ballance.

Also, try crossing one foot in front of the other and try touching your toes.

Yeah. Tried all of that- wall stretches, curb stretches, leg-crossed stretches. None of it seems to hit that particular muscle.

I tend to eat a banana each day. No luck there. :slight_smile:

I’m not certain, ultrafilter, that it is the soleus. It’s a muscle low on the leg, on the outside, just above the calf. The soleus appears to be along the back of the leg- and I don’t have any problems with that. Just along the lower outside.

All right, here are a few other candidates:[ol][li] Peroneus longus[/li][li] Peroneus brevis[/li][li] Peroneus tertius[/ol]There’s a stretch called the outer ankle stretch that will get those. Try it, and see if it helps.[/li]
To do it, just move the inside of your foot up with your toes pointed straight out. Hold it for about 30 seconds.