Male, 23, Rugby player at county level.
The client came into the clinic today with pain in the calf. The client explained that the pain came on the previous day when playing rugby match, the client iced the injury straight after the match.
On observation the client did not appear to have any bruising or swelling around the ankle, there was a symmetry of muscle bulk on both legs. Both the knee and toes were cleared and the client did not experience any pain or symptoms. On palpation the client’s gastrocnemius was tight on the (R) leg, compared to the (L). There was PoP on the (R) gastrocnemius. On active movement of the ankle the client had full ROM in PF, DF, Inv and Ev. In passive movement the client’s ankle was tested in PF, DF, Inv and Ev and the end feel showed no abnormities.
In resisted movements the client scored a 5 out of 5 in PF, DF, Inv and Ev.
The special tests performed were anterior/posterior draw tests, talar tilt test, syndesmosis squeeze test, kieigers test, lateral stress test, fibular transition test, Thomson squeeze test
and windlass test for plantar fasciopathy, the client tested negative in all the above tests.
Treatment given to the client was a sports massage concentrating of the gastrocnemius. The sports massage was started with light effleurage to warm up the muscles and increase the blood flow to the calf muscles. Petrissage techniques were then implemented e.g. wringing, picking up, kneading and open C’s. Both neuro muscular techniques and MET’s were used