Don’t make someone sit or stand on your calf muscles for pain relief; try these exercises instead

Have you ever experienced a sharp, intense, and unbearable pain in your legs? And do you make your child sit or stand on them for relief? That is not the way to go about it, say experts, highlighting the need to identify the root cause of the issue.

It is important to understand that leg pain can be due to various reasons, making it essential to first learn about its root cause, said Dr Anup Khatri, senior consultant, orthopedics, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai.

“Certain health issues or diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, or medical history can be the primary reason behind intense pain. Other potential problems like the weakening of gluteus muscles (helps in providing stability and balance), hamstring muscles (responsible for bending the knees), calf muscles (play an important role in movements like running or walking) and adductor muscles (stabilising the pelvis) can also cause discomfort and pain,” added Dr Khatri.

So, instead of neglecting or treating it as a normal pain, individuals are advised to regularly do physical stretches and activities to maintain the mobility and flexibility of the body. Some of these exercises include standing calf raises (15*3 sets), standing hip abduction (10*3 sets), and bird dog (10*12 sets), as shared by social media influencer Issac Choury.

According to Dr Khatri, exercises like standing hip abduction (stand against the wall in a straight posture and move your legs up and down), bird dog (kneeling on the floor and straightening your legs), and calf raises (raising your toes up and down by standing against the wall) can be rewarding and lead to optimal results.

Here’s how stretching helps (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

“These exercises can help strengthen the muscles making them stronger internally and reducing any future pain,” said Dr Khatri.

Standing hip abduction strengthen the hip abductor muscles, and stability of your pelvis during walking, he added.

 

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What else to keep in mind?

One should strictly exercise under the guidance of a fitness trainer. “Also important is proper diet and hydration. Lack of vitamin E and dehydration can cause calf pains and cramps,” said Dr Khatri.

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