Can't Straighten Leg Following Injury

[Bough]

I played soccer on Sunday and received a kick/knee in the calf; I felt like I had a bit of a dead leg, so I tried running it off and it seemed fine for a while. At the end of the game I was limping heavily and by the time I got home my calf and lower leg had swollen to about 1.5 times its normal size. 4 Days later, the swelling is subsiding, but I can't walk properly since I can't straighten my leg when my foot is flat on the floor; I can walk on tiptoes, but I feel a tight pain if I try to raise my toes toward my knee.

Does anyone know what I might have done? My sense is that I have a deep bruise, but I'm wondering if it could be a tear also? Does anybody have suggestions as to how I should go about treating this injury either way?

Thanks

[Heidi]

Hi
It definately sounds like a contusion, which is basically muscle damage from a hard impact, causing bleeding and swelling.

It should be treated carefully. Initially Ice, rest and compression. Once it is painless to do so you can start stretching the calf muscles gently and get some sports massage.

You can find out more about its treatment here:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/backlowerleg/calfcontusion.htm

Good luck!

[Bough]

Thanks for your help; would a contusion in the calf cause me to be unable to straighten my leg? Even though it's been two weeks and a lot of the swelling has subsided, I still can't walk without a crutch because the leg won't extend fully.

Thanks again

[Heidi]

Yes that is possible. This is because the Gastrocnemius crosses the knee joint at the back and is actually a weak knee flexor. So if this muscle tightens up it can limit knee extension as it won't stretch to allow this.