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Movement and Exercise

What Causes Tight or Painful Calf Muscles?

You may be able to prevent or relieve tight calves by avoiding these mistakes.

Marisa Taylor KarasMandy Armitage, MD
Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Mandy Armitage, MD
Updated on January 31, 2025
Reviewed by Mandy Armitage, MD | January 31, 2025

Tight calf muscles are a common issue, and when they’re severe, they may limit your mobility. In many cases, tight calf muscles are avoidable. In this video, learn the most common causes of tight, painful calf muscles.

If you’re struggling with tight calves, you can read about calf stretches that may help here.

References

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Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.
Mandy Armitage, MD
Reviewed by:
Mandy Armitage, MD
Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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