Trigger Point Referred Pain Pattern of the Soleus

Trigger points presented here in the Soleus refer pain to the heel and distal end of the Achilles tendon. Some researchers have said that Soleus TrP’s can cause pain in the sole of the foot and to the same side sacroiliac joint area.

Symptoms and Stress:

Primary symptoms of Soleus trigger points (TrP’s) are heel pain and a restriction of ankle dorsiflexon. Also walking uphill or up and down stairs can be very difficult due to pain and tenderness caused by TrP’s here. Soleus trigger points are one cause of growing pains in children between the ages of 5 – 14 years.

Stress and activation of trigger points here are caused by overloading the soleus muscle especially when walking on shoes with smooth leather soles, soft sand or uneven walking or running surfaces such as running or walking on the beach.

Leaving the soleus muscle in a shortened position for a prolonged period of time as in females wearing high-heels and of course direct trauma to the soleus. Anything that cuts off or limits circulation a foot rest that rests on your soleus or wearing socks with tight elastic fittings that compress the calf muscle will cause TrP’s as well.

Attachment:

Origin: Outside back of leg, just below the knee. Insertion: It meets the gastrocnemius muscle to join and form the Achilles tendon.

Action:

Plantar flexion of the foot (coming up onto the toes when knees are bent). The function of the soleus during gait is to provide knee and ankle stability. The soleus muscle is very important in running and jumping activites. The Soleus known as “the second heart” also has a muscular function. Because of the veins running through, your soleus muscle as it contracts and relaxes helps pump blood back to your heart so it assists in maintaining circulation.

Muscle Weakness:

Difficulty standing on your toes. Standing on the balls of your feet activates and overloads the soleus muscle as does wearing high heels, you may also suffer from ankle instability. Active soleus muscle trigger points restricts ankle dorsiflexon. This limitation makes it nearly impossible to pick things up from the floor with safe, good body mechanics because keeping the trunk erect requires proper ankle dorsiflexon and knee flexion. Without this, your trunk will have a tendency to round off, causing excessive stress on the tendons and ligaments of your low back.

Corrective actions:

A soleus pedal exercise is used for flexing and extending your foot as if you were pedaling a bike. This rhythmic pumping action will also increase blood circulation back to the heart. Avoid wearing high heels and wearing socks with tight elastic cuffs that can limit or cut off circulation.

To pick things up off the floor try dropping down to one knee, this does not require full dorsiflexion of either ankle this will limit the amount stress that you put on your back, by not rounding off. Performing a kneeling dorsiflexion exercise with a dowel is a corrective exercise that can also help correct this movement pattern. Start in half-kneeling position with feet wider than midline, place dowel in front of you and outside the lateral aspect of  your forward foot.

With a tall straight back and your belly button drawn in towards your spine, shift or lunge forward taking your front knee over and inline with your second toe. You may feel this stretch toward the front of your ankle. Also if you have a tendency to become cold at night try wearing long, loose socks to cover your calf muscles this will conserve warmth and prevent your calves from cooling.

Massage Therapy:

Massage therapy is very effective in de-activating trigger points and restoring normal muscle function. By combining deep tissue massage techniques, PNF Stretching and corrective exercises this will often give you the best results. Isolate and then integrate.

At Roman Paradigm Massage & Therapy, we strive to help you live pain-free. So when you decide that living with pain and dysfunction is NOT something that, you want to continue experiencing call us (408) 247-1169.

Watch these self trigger point massage techniques on the Soleus

Massage Rate:

• 60 min session = $90
• 75 min. session = $105 (recommended length)
• 90 min. session = $130 (recommended length)
• 120 min. session = $180

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

“Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, The Trigger Point Manual” Janet G. Travell, M.D. & David G. Simons, M.D.

“The Muscle Book” Paul Blakey

“Functional Movement Screen” Gray Cook