# Painful calf cramps and swelling while running- any solutions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painful-calf-cramps-and-swelling-while-running-any-solutions/119131 "2002-07-15T22:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painful-calf-cramps-and-swelling-while-running-any-solutions/119131/1 "2002-07-15T22:22:32Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painful-calf-cramps-and-swelling-while-running-any-solutions/119131/2 "2002-07-15T22:37:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painful-calf-cramps-and-swelling-while-running-any-solutions/119131/3 "2002-07-15T22:38:59Z")
Potassium. That is what people have told me. Eat bananas. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painful-calf-cramps-and-swelling-while-running-any-solutions/119131/4 "2002-07-15T22:42:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painful-calf-cramps-and-swelling-while-running-any-solutions/119131/5 "2002-07-15T23:03:16Z")
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. 🙂 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. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painful-calf-cramps-and-swelling-while-running-any-solutions/119131/6 "2002-07-15T23:10:00Z")
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.