I’ve recently started ABBH, and I’ve really liked it. A great workout but not a stretch beyond my fitness. I had been training hard previously. Some soreness this first week but nothing out of the ordinary. EXCEPT…my calves are horribly sore. So much so that I can’t tell yet if it’s an injury as opposed to soreness. I hadn’t been doing direct calfwork for a time. But I stupidly jumped right in and worked them hard like the rest of my muscle groups according to the program’s parameters. This was two days ago. Some soreness yesterday. But today has been just awful. Just walking around and standing normally really hurts.
I need to be on tiptoe to be comfortable. I even cancelled my plans tonight and didn’t go out because it’s too uncomfortable to be walking around. I stretched them out to the extent that I can. Took an epson salt bath. Iced. Took 3 advil. I avoided it until tonight because NSAIDs interfere with gains but decided that was very stupid and that it’s more important to get it under control. I will definitely skip working them out in my scheduled legs and ab workout on Sunday. Any recommendations for what else I should?
How can I tell if it’s an injury as opposed to extreme soreness? Just give it some time? What could I have done? I’ve been extremely sore at times, but I can’t remember ever feeling like this even as a complete newbie when I first started lifting weights. Any input and advice is much appreciated.
I highly doupt you injured both calves at the same time. I would just do some light calf work to get blood flowing and help with recovery, just do some body weight calf raises until you get a pump several times a day.
I think I know what youre talking about. Day 2 after direct calf work I had to tip-toe when I walked and couldnt bring my leg under me without being on my toes. This lasted a few days… All I did was stretch it out as best as I could.
I would bet its just extremely sore. Worry if its still there after 4 days or so.
Thanks guys. I think you’re both right. I’m not injured. It is somewhat better today. Still, this level of DOMS defies belief. It’s now 3 days after the workout, and while I can walk and stand more flat-footed, it’s still fairly painful. I’ll take your advice. Stretch it out as much as I can. Maybe do some bodyweight calf raises soon. Tomorrow, I’ll skip the weighted workout. I’ll just deadlift and do abs. For the next workout and the next few, I think I’ll cut some of the sets until my calves ‘catch up’ to the rest of my muscles. Thanks.
I agreee with JNeves. I think you just performed an exercise past you neuro and or muscular capacity. I’m not sure if you overstressed during eccentric or concentric.
If the pain occured because of eccentrics DO NOT STRETCH THE MUSCLE. instead do some SMR (self myofascial release). I won’t go into detail on what it is. You just got to google it to find out if you don’t know. I will say this: you don’t need a “foam roll” to do it. Anything from a hard rubber ball to a can of beans should suffice.
Definitely lay off of legs until it is fully recovered.
Thanks gusto jack. Good suggestions. I am familiar with SMR. The best thing I have around the house is probably a tennis ball. I’ll do that today. I probably performed past the neuro capacity. I didn’t fail on any of the sets of 5 x 10. So, do you guys think it would be ok to do deadlifts tomorrow or completely lay off legs until the calves feel better?
I’ve worked my calves so hard before that they were incredibly sore and painful for nearly a week! And it seemed as though each day was worse than the one before!
[quote]jsbrook wrote:
Thanks gusto jack. Good suggestions. I probably performed past the neuro capacity. I didn’t fail on any of the sets of 5 x 10. So, do you guys think it would be ok to do deadlifts tomorrow or completely lay off legs until the calves feel better.[/quote]
Get them massaged and stretch them today. Do some “light” activity to warm them up and get them loose. You should feel fine tomorrow and be able to do your deadlifts.
[quote]Nate Dogg wrote:
jsbrook wrote:
Thanks gusto jack. Good suggestions. I probably performed past the neuro capacity. I didn’t fail on any of the sets of 5 x 10. So, do you guys think it would be ok to do deadlifts tomorrow or completely lay off legs until the calves feel better.
Get them massaged and stretch them today. Do some “light” activity to warm them up and get them loose. You should feel fine tomorrow and be able to do your deadlifts.