How to relax the calf muscles

For friends who exercise, whether before or after exercise, they should pay attention to relaxing the calf muscles. You can do some calf massage, but you should also pay attention to some massage points and techniques, rather than doing it blindly.

1. Massage the front of the calf

Massage point: Tibialis anterior muscle

*Tibialis anterior muscle tapping

The tibialis anterior is the most important muscle on the front of the calf. Almost everyone will feel pain when massaging this muscle, very painful! When massaging, the strength should be controlled to the point where it hurts, but the muscles can remain relaxed. Too strong a force will make the muscles tense up reflexively, which will not have the effect of relaxing them.

2. Massage on both sides of the calf

Massage points: peroneus muscle, soleus muscle

*Relax the upper right calf

When stretching the calf, it is often difficult to stretch the left and right sides of the calf muscles. Massage by squeezing with the palms can achieve a deeper relaxation effect than stretching. Different from the previous movement, you can use greater force when massaging the muscles on both sides of the calf. You can feel the strength of both hands opposing each other inside the calf, and there will be a more obvious feeling of soreness and swelling in the calf.

3. Calf massage

Massage points: gastrocnemius, soleus

* Right calf tap

These two muscles on the back of the calf are the most easily overused. After shopping or running, they will stand there like two stones. When massaging them, find the most painful point and massage it repeatedly with your thumb until the pain is relieved.

Foot massage

Massage point: plantar fascia

4. *Tap the right sole

Relaxation of the soles of the feet is something that many people tend to overlook. In fact, after long-term exercise, the fascia on the surface of the muscles will become tense. The plantar fascia involves the muscles of the entire calf and even thigh. Relaxing it can indirectly relax the legs.

There is a reason why foot massage parlors are doing so well these days.

5. Calf stretch

Stretching is the pulling of the muscles as a whole, and the parts of the muscles that are tense are often different. If you stretch at the beginning, you cannot effectively relax the most tense parts. Massage is to relax the tense points of muscles and balance the tension in different parts of the muscles. Does it feel more comfortable to stretch after pressing than to stretch directly?