Tennis Calf/Gastrocnemius Tears

A tennis calf is a tear in the connective tissue that connects these two large muscles that forms the calf. A tennis calf is a very common injury that occurs as a result of sudden high force trauma to the calf, such as during a quick sprint or jump during sport, or as a result of an unexpected, quick calf stretch, such as misjudging a step.

Causes and Risk Factors

A ruptured calf muscle can occur if your calf is suddenly overstretched. This injury can be caused by sudden pivots, jumps, or abrupt stops during sports. If you overwork your calf muscles, you may develop tears over time. Tears also occur in people who return to exercise too soon after a previous calf injury.