Today, I'm gonna talk to you about treatment of equinus. As soon as I identify this for a patient, I start the patient on a program of appropriate stretching.
3 Methods for Treating Tight Calf Muscles
Stretching Exercises
Stretching exercises are easily done at home. The problem is they need to be done for up to 30 minutes a day. To help you with that, a splint can be worn while you're watching TV and easily get that 30 minutes out of the program. And along with it, 30 minutes of stretching effectively to reduce the tightness of your calf muscle. To learn how to use a splint effectively, view our video called, "How to Use An Achilles Splint to Treat the Calf for Treating Plantar Fasciitis".
Use of a Heel Lift
Other steps that are done initially and only temporarily are the addition of a heel lift underneath the insole of your shoe to raise the heel up, which will relax the calf musculature.
Use of Orthotics
Finally, the foot mechanics themselves must be controlled. The most common problem in the foot with over-rolling in of the arch, called excessive pronation, leads to tightening of the calf. So if that's present, foot supports typically including orthotics are utilized in order to stop the need for tightening of that calf.
If the inflammation is too great, certainly inclusion of measures such as ice and heat, anti-inflammatories and referral to physical therapy are often in order.
We hope this has been helpful in giving you basics of how to treat this condition, which is so important in order to be able to eliminate your foot problems. So if you're suffering from a host of foot conditions, come in now and let's check for equinus. Eliminate this problem so you can eliminate your foot problems quickly.
