Calf Muscle Strain

The gastrocnemius consists of two branches, the medial and lateral heads, and is responsible for both knee flexion and ankle plantar flexion. Sudden eccentric contractions—such as downhill running, descending stairs, or landing after a jump—or explosive propulsion without warming up concentrate tensile stress at the muscle-tendon junction, resulting in injuries classified as Grade I (micro-tears) to Grade III (complete ruptures). As one ages, the proportion of Type II muscle fibers (fast-twitch) decreases, and the water content of tendons also declines, lowering the elastic limit. In Korean traditional medicine, gastrocnemius muscle injury is viewed as a condition where muscle and tendon tissues are damaged. Korean traditional medicine believes that muscles remain firm only when the function of regulating muscles and tendons is balanced with the digestive function that supplies nutrients to the muscles. If these functions decline due to overwork or stress, or if digestive and absorption capabilities weaken, sufficient nutrients cannot circulate to the muscles, causing them to rupture easily even from the same impact. Based on this perspective, Dongjedang designs a treatment plan that releases blood clots in the early stages of injury and coordinates muscle and digestive functions during the recovery phase to prevent re-injury.