The remarkable soleus

The remarkable Soleus muscle.
 
Located in the back of the lower leg, attaching to the Achilles tendon and the heel is the Soleus muscle. The Soleus is a remarkable muscle generally known for its resilient endurance and contractile strength. 
The soleus muscle (as well as other muscles) holds up the body when standing to maintain the centre of mass and preventing us face planting forward. As the soleus is a muscle that points the foot down, it is therefore a powerful muscle that propels us forward during walking and running.
A fun fact here is with its powerful contractions, the Soleus compresses blood vessels to propel blood back to the heart against gravity, earning its reputation as the body’s second heart (known as the Musculo-venous pump). Taking a walk every day is usually a good idea for the cardiovascular system anyway.

Strength and elasticity for the Soleus

It is important to keep this muscle strong using a range of exercises for the lower leg. We can improve elasticity using ankle mobility exercises as well as stretches for the lower leg.
The stronger and more elastic the Soleus the more force it can produce, thus improving your gait and centre of mass.
Regarding restricted range of motion, tightness and pain patterns, the soleus characteristically develops 3 areas of trigger points mainly referring to the inner part of the heel with tenderness to touch and deep in the upper calf muscle towards the knee.
The pain in the heel is one of the main complaints from running athletes and may sometimes be misdiagnosed as Achilles tendonitis. In saying that, chronic shortening of the soleus muscle can lead to increased tension of the achilles tendon, potentially leading to Achilles Tendinitis.

For this reason, a thorough assessment of movement patterns is important given that the recovery times and treatment approach can differ depending on the assessment findings.

Myotherapy techniques like joint mobilizations, manual myofascial release techniques and dry needling may significantly improve symptoms and restore function of the soleus and the lower leg. 

If you are experiencing any of the above, let us help you.

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