Give your sore calves a treat with a leg massage

What causes sore leg muscles?

Sore leg muscles can happen at any time, for loads of different of reasons; from strenuous exercise, to walking briskly to the shops before they shut, and even out of the blue with no obvious cause. You may already have found yourself lying in bed when suddenly your leg begins to ache, or pushing for that extra mile on the treadmill when you feel something cramp up.

The legs contain a lot of parts that, when damaged, can be a source of discomfort or pain. These include:

• Joints

• Muscles

• Tendons

• Ligaments

• Nerves

• Skin

As well as pain, you might experience:

• Numbness

• Cramps

• Tingling sensation

• Weakness

• Throbbing

Any one of these symptoms can be caused by simple injury or something more long-term, such as deep vein thrombosis, sciatica or even as a result of diabetes. It is important to ensure you know the cause of the problem in your legs before seeking massage treatment, in case massage isn’t recommended.

How can massage help ease leg and thigh pain?

Depending on the extent of your discomfort, massage may be very effective in alleviating the symptoms of pain in your legs. This is particularly true when it comes to exercise-related soreness.

One of the most common sports issues comes from tight quads or calves, which can have a knock-on effect on other parts of your legs. It is sometimes tricky to tell if you have tight calves, as it often comes with other distracting problems such as foot pain, achilles tendonitis, knee pain, discomfort in the hips or back, or shin splints.

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A massage can help tackle all of these symptoms by releasing tension all over the leg and stimulating the flow of blood. A massage therapist will apply techniques appropriate for your complaint, which will often involve light stroking, kneading and pulling the muscle, alongside applying pressure in circular motions.

It is important to note that you must not seek a massage immediately after an injury has occurred. It’s always advised to leave it for a few days, so that the massage doesn’t risk causing more harm.

Massage techniques to relax the calf muscles

If you don’t have the time or means to seek a qualified practitioner, then there are techniques you can do at home to help with leg soreness. The key is to remember not to apply too much pressure, as this can risk damaging the muscle further.

Try these simple steps:

• Gently at first, stroke upwards along the entire leg in the direction of the heart. Begin to apply slightly more pressure with every up-stroke.

• As the muscles loosen, introduce some kneading using your thumbs, fingers, knuckles, along with a bit more pressure. Allow your hands to follow the shape of the legs, taking time to locate any knots that might require more attention.

• When you have located these knots, or “trigger points”, you may wish to apply more deep, prolonged pressure with your thumbs to release them. Ensure you don’t overdo it, but apply pressure until you feel the muscles start to release.

Can you have a leg massage if you’re pregnant?

One of the symptoms of pregnancy can be swollen or sore legs, with feelings of pain, numbness, or tingling sensations. A leg massage is totally fine if you’re beyond your first trimester, although you should always speak with your doctor first, and consider booking a specialist pregnancy massage.