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Plantar heel pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders of the foot and ankle. The effectiveness of treatment used in clinical practice–such as calf stretching–is a good short-term treatment for heel pain.
When it comes to fitness, getting stronger legs, flexibility, and faster recovery, calf stretchers are a great tool for physical therapists looking for the best rehabilitation for their patients.
This article will outline the benefits of calf stretches for rehab and flexibility.
Do you have plantar fasciitis, bunions, or other foot problems? A calf stretcher is a specially-designed piece of equipment that lets you target (and elongate) the muscles in your calves, hamstrings, and Achilles tendon. Usually angled or slanted, it positions the foot in a way that supports deep, more sustained stretching for mobility.
Most people would have done a calf stretch before! Putting your arms on a wall, you lean towards it while keeping one leg bent in front, and the heel of a straight leg behind on the floor. That said, if you don’t have time to exercise or have limited mobility (from injury, illness, or aging), a calf stretcher is good to add to your daily routine.
According to this article by the National Institute of Health, 92 participants improved over a period of two weeks of a stretching program. Calf stretching was a benefit in ‘first-step’ pain, foot function, foot pain or general foot health in comparison to not stretching at all.
So, how do they benefit rehabilitation?
Beginner-friendly, calf stretchers are also excellent for the experienced athlete. If you’ve hurt yourself and need rehabilitation, as a tool, a calf stretcher helps:
The calf stretcher improves gait and balance as you start standing and walking in a form that strengthens lateral hip muscles. Additionally, you’ll be adding a healthy load to your hip bones, removing pressure from the balls of your feet.
A calf stretcher used post-exercise increases blood circulation, flushes out lactic acid buildup, and reduces soreness. It also promotes faster recovery time and helps you be consistent with training. What can adding calf stretching do for your routine?
And if you struggle with back pain, adding a daily calf stretch better aligns the spine.
Tight calves are uncomfortable and hinder movement, so calve stretchers support more flexibility by:
When lower leg flexibility is enhanced, you can experience more fluid movements, which reduces strain on other joints and muscles, such as your hips or knees.
Read: A Beginner’s Guide to Using Rehabilitation Treadmills for Maximum Recovery.
Tight calves are a big culprit in lower leg injuries, such as shin splints. Calve stretchers lower the risk.
No matter what, injury prevention must be part of your plan, especially if you’re training for a marathon, for example.
One of the best things about a calf stretcher is that it’s lightweight, easy to store and perfect for home gyms, rehabilitation centres, and can even be taken to work to use under the desk.
Compact and easy to use, the Access Stretch/Incline Board can be used for calf stretches of various degrees. It features:
It can also be used as a footrest underneath a desk or chair.
The Fit Stretch Flexibility Exerciser is a fantastic way to keep your lower leg as flexible as possible. Its portable design makes it ideal for use during warm-ups before exercise and cool-downs after exercise.
Muscle Improvement using the Fit Stretch helps to increase the flexibility of your ankle, shin and calf, making you nimbler and improving the effectiveness of your exercise regime. This also helps to reduce the risk of developing injuries to your lower leg, helping you to concentrate on your fitness.
For dynamic stretching of the lower leg, turn to the Fit Stretch. Ideal for gently working the ankle, Achilles’ tendon, or calf muscle, especially after injury. Available in blue only.
The Fit Stretch comes in one universal size that should be suitable for most users.
Get a quote today!
You want to start slow. Place your foot onto the stretcher and gently lean forward until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg. Your feet must be parallel and hip-width apart (they will feel pigeon-toed).
For the front view, mid-ankles are in line with your ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine), which are the sticking-out points in front of your pelvis. For the side view, transfer the weight of your body mostly to your heels to align your hips with your knees and mid-ankles. It creates a vertical line between your hip bone and ankle bone.
Hold the position for around 30 seconds, then switch sides. Gradually increase the duration and intensity as your flexibility improves.
Read: Exploring the Top Advantages of Using an Arm Ergometer Machine.
If you’d like to know more about what rehabilitation equipment will work best for you, speak to us at Access Health.
Established in 1978, Access Health is still owned and operated by the same Australian family, growing into a major supplier of medical and rehabilitation equipment.
Supplying hospitals, private practices, aged care, on sellers, education facilities and members of the public, we pride ourselves on going that extra mile for our customers.
Offering quality products at reasonable prices with friendly customer service, we help with the purchase of one piece of equipment through to a complete rehab practice set-up. With ranges for all budgets, we have products to suit everyone’s individual needs.
Contact us if you need equipment for daily living and mobility, patient handling, bariatric, practice supplies, rehab and equipment, and more. Based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, we can deliver throughout Australia. We’re also certified to the ISO 9001 Quality Standards.
Disclaimer: Access Health is not qualified to agree or deny whether this content is correct. For accurate information, consult your medical professional or provider.
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