You forget, not everybody has waits that they can hook the band too. So what do you do I have nothing in my house that I can put my band connected to that. I know of and uses dismiss it
I really like the way this is presented. You’re teaching the viewer not only the movement but also a basis to why the muscle is tight in the first place and how the nervous system interacts with it. You explain in simple terms that makes it accessible to anyone that comes across the video. Great content!!
Absolutely goated I was so focused on rolling and stretching my legs that I completely overlooked my back. In just one session, I went from barely being able to get my hands past my knees to smoothly touching my toes! It's incredible what a little attention can do. Remember, it's all about balance in your stretches! Keep pushing yourself, and you'll see wonderful progress. Undefined potential is just waiting to be unlocked!
Thank you!!! I've been having extremely tight calves and hamstrings my whole life. Recently I started to do my own target stretches then googling till I figured out what is the muscles in that area and what they do and find track down the root of my lifelong issues. This is how I found you and my psoas muscle. I'm shocked that everything I learned from my own experimental stretches and research even my past issues with my back you mentioned all of it !!!! Wish I would have found you first, but At least I know I was on the right track.
I really admire the work you do. I've put up with a horrendous back for 45 years -- I'm sure I've spent 5 years of my life limping with sciatica. I took a bad fall at 14. Broke my coccyx, bruised the SI, threw my hips out of whack, twisted my back. But I was a rough-and-tumble kid so I got up and got on with it. I saw professional in every field just to get a diagnosis, let alone treatment. Nothing. Six years ago i said to myself, you're not broken, you're not deformed, you're not diseased -- there's every reason to think a healthy musculature wouldn't help pull the body together. I'm sure I've averaged 2 hours a day. It's hard to believe but during the covid shutdown I rode a small t'ai chi ball for 6 1/2 hours one day. The things you are showing me are tremendously beneficial. Thanks, mate...
way to go! I had bad sciatica last year (in my 30s - was my wedding year). Was so much pain I couldn't walk and actually walked with a cane. Now I'm never having that happened again. Sitting is a silent killer I think (or standing for far too long).
@@ajsingh1296 I simply said to myself, "I am not diseased, I am not disabled, I am not broken -- there is no reason why I cannot get back to normal if I stretch and strengthen the musculature of the body. I've spent at least an hour a day -- 1800 hours in 5 years -- stretching and strengthening -- almost every bit of it has been while I was on the floor. Like most mornings these days, I woke up today and instead of grief and pain I glided to the kitchen pain free. You should have seen me running for my bus the other day! Life is good -- and I'll never suffer from sciatica again. cheers, brother...
So how’s your back now in 2024, compared to 4 years ago? I’ve been dealing with back issues for a long time now too. From sports to lifting, my hips are tight my back is all messed up. Trying to figure out a remedy but it’s a journey
In my opinion, this is the most important kind of knowledge that ppl in the US & modern world need the most. I wish we were all taught about physiotherapy from an early age.
That idea of tensing in a stretched position for 5 seconds or so and then relaxing that muscle and sinking deeper into the stretch immediately, rinse amd repeat..is life changing information. It almost feels like a "cheat code" for the body's flexibility system. It's incredible. I discovered it accidentally a few years ago when attempting to learn how to do splits. It worked for that too
I have been battling knee issues and tight ankles for close to 3 years and never in all the PT I did, kinesitherapy, osteo or anything my problem progressed towards a solution faster than it has after trying out the stretches in your video! I had a bunion forming on my left big toe and all the toe strengthening in the world did not manage to unlock the joint like the gastrocenemius and soleus stretches. I went deep in there and I felt the inside of my foot like I never have and it's such a relief I'm crying. This is giving me so much hope that if I keep at it, tackling the roots of my issues, I won't have knee pain as much anymore. I didn't know when I would see the day I'll have mobility in my foot again. This is seriously a game changer ! Who knew it had little to do with the calf at all ?? I was strengthening it like crazy to support my weak feet, and all this time it was a combination of the back and ankle. Thank you for the work you are doing, truly appreciate it !!
Amazing Winnie, thanks for sharing! I’m really happy the video resonated with you and sounds like it’s had a big impact. Good luck getting on top of it. Feel free to pop back in and let me know how it’s been going!!
Strengthening systems that are already overactive/tight and often the exact opposite of what we need. A great example are people with chronic back pain who try to strengthen the lower back repeatedly and just put themselves in spasm. They are likely taking muscles that are already contracted to near spasm, and then tightening them further. The brain tightens/creates tension in systems to answer a problem. AKA the brain can not use the proper systems to stabilize so it must fire compensatory systems to make up for this lack of stability/strength. If you take the example of someone post car accident/trauma, the brain tightens/locks the side of the body (at a muscular level) that was impacted. This is done without our awareness and at a nervous system level. This consistent tension absolutely alters muscle balance and even activation patterns and sequencing of muscles. Hope this helps!
I just want to say two things: OW (lower back foam rolling) and WOW (immediately did a down dog and got my feet flat on the floor for the first time ever)!!!! I've had nagging soleus pain for the past 7 years and I'm excited to have found your video. An expensive physio I saw earlier this year just told me to do calf raises (ow) and didn't mention the lower back once. THANK YOU
Really happy to hear you may have found the root cause finally! As simple as it may sound once you figure it out, I’m not sure the industry is as aware of the back’s role in these things as they hopefully will be in the future. Good luck with your rehab!
one of the best self care videos i've seen. I've always known part of my problem was ankle mobility. The band mobility stretch is what I've been looking for!
Thanks! Excellent approach, looking at root causes. I’ll be sure to watch your other videos and see if this 70-year-old ex-runner’s body can remember how it’s supposed to work.
😊thank you this was very informative and i could feel the exercises working . I have always had very muscular claves from dancing and gymnastics when i was young . Now in my 60s I’m in constant pain and it affects my walking , i love hiking and attempting challenging trails . Will keep persevering with this routine.
I had tight calf muscles forever. They always looked bulky and I hated them so much. Now in my 40s I was dealing with Morton’s neuroma and bunionettes last year. I joined a gym, worked on mobility, leg stretches and strength and now all those problems are gone.
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. I want to understand the why the root cause. This makes so much sense! I’ve been to PT, Chiro, podiatry for right calves, foot pain, tendinitis in the ankle, SI instability. No one was seeing the big picture and making these connections. Thank you!!! You are brilliant. If you have time I’d love to connect with some specific questions.
You would think that in all these years of therapist doing these things that they would have an idea of what to do or simply long-term, you know. I'm very grateful for this guy. There is hope.
I’m sure wearing high heels daily for so many years has not helped. This is something I need to do often, these are good tips and I’ve learned some new ones. I was always told I needed fancy sneakers to help the situation but once I went to completely flat sneakers that made a big difference, I no longer have the pain I used to have in my knees and hips.
That was me as a cocktail and food server for many years in my twenties. Then having 4 children , all c sections, but then this past February i fell in the snow and fractured my left knee/ tibia and I'm thinking that overcompensating with my right side put me into sciatica which i had had before here and there but never long or hard. This time it was. So the other day i was in walmart and felt the pain of sciatica but walked too fast , almost a small jog and it immediately tightened the calf and twisted my back of my knee.. ouch . I am hardly walking but im making myself. Im sorry you go through this
Going to give this method a try for a few weeks. I had assumed that my calf/soleus tightness is the result of poor prep and recovery for running at my heavy weight. I am a big man and until that weight sheds, I assumed my struggles would continue. I'll try this out since I have had back/sciatic nerve issues. Thanks!
Very informative video, I've never heard anyone speak about it like this. And I've had tight calfs since I was a child, been to different practitioners to try and fix it but no one ever talked about it coming from my back or anything other than the foot
Hi Hannah, I hope the tips in the video and genuinely help you find that potential missing piece of the puzzle. I’m really passionate about trying to understand the root cause of why things happen to the body, and over the last 20 years, my clinical experience has shown me just how important, and criminally underrated the spine is in all of this stuff!
What a great video! Thanks so much. Plenty of food for thought there. Love the wisdom of the holistic advice and approach...you have a new subscriber! All the best x
My ankles have been like an old cement mixer for years. Just did the banded joint mobilization and although they didn't move further at this stage they definitely move much easier. Will add this to my routine. Thanks!
One stop shop for Calves!! You should do other videos for all major muscle groups :). Well done....I love the Trigger Point massage technique explained
❤ you gained a subscriber this is awesome. I’ve been addicted to cardio for years (running 9 plus miles a day until my overuse injury last fall). I’m now prioritizing stretching and strength with my cardio! I found out with my body I have to. Thanks so much.
I love that banded ankle mobilty movement. After years of volleyball my left ankle is pretty stiff and i've developed some other foot issues. I've done a lot of ankle mobility exercises but band really helps to get deep into the joints.
Mate, thanks so much for this video. I'm trying to get back into running and my calves are ridiculously tight and i keep pulling them. These exercises have made immediate difference to slacken them off. Thank you! Subbed 👍
I recently had a really bad high ankle sprain. While in a boot and in recovery I gained 17 lbs. I also have a mild scoliosis. My ankle is almost back to normal but I have a ton of stiffness due to the sprain. I am back at the gym and have begun my training again to drop the excess weight. What I recently noticed is the severity of the tightness in my calves. I will try this video today for relief because nothing else seems to help. 🙏🏽 than you for this video
Your right lower back issuse hams to the calfs , have to fix em all al my issuse nice tips buddy . I'm back work out lover me ill get to work thanks again
As a psychologist/therapist I can tell you that this holistic approach (many different things coming together for healing) is the key to best symptom reduction and overall health.. The Wellness Nerd , and I watch dozens of videos, is the best at this I've seen, at explaining things very well, and most importantly: giving me options that no one else is telling me drawn from this wider and deeper knowledge. This video should go viral for not just the particular problem addressed, but for the wisdom of health. Dr. Steve
I have a bulging disc with arthritis that has resulted in painful sciatica running from my ischial area down to the outside of my leg. I've been working on calf raises this week n noticed i started getting sciatica running down the center back of my hamstring to my calf area for the first time. I couldn't even swim my laps tonight or walk in the pool without my calf tingling n hurting. I never realized my calf was connected to my spinal condition. Thank you for explaining. I realize i need to go slower on strengthening my calves.
@@annipsy2185I actually went to PT for two sessions. Learned the exercises needed and was given a routine sheet by them to follow. Helped me a lot! Stretching the calves was main thing abd rubber the calf. Watching This video helped me!
I got sciatica decades after my L4/5 bulging disc problem. My physiotherapist said it was my lower back that caused my PF. My calves are so tight now,regardless of stretching twice a day for almost 3 years
This is legitimately fascinating, I’m a photographer and mostly shoot on tripod so bending forward. O shoot video using a gimbal too which gives me back ache, then I’m editing sat down a lot too. I get a lot of tight calf issues and poor ankle mobility issues, my calf’s ache when I go bare foot. I wonder if I have back issues from all this that is causing calf and ankle tightness!! I’ll try this technique to see if it helps!
I always appreciate your videos for your exlanations to get to the root of the problem. I'll try to keep this short - when I was a kid, I inhaled a tooth which had to be extracted via thoracotomy on my right side. That was a few decades ago so the incision/scarring crudely wraps around my rib cage. I have lots of muscle/nerve pain problems on my right side from my neck to my rt SI joint and down my leg which I attribute to this. When I perform the foam rolling on my back as described in the video, the area of the spine immediately adjacent to the scar is tender and painful. An xray from years ago shows the spine curving toward the scar which is tight. My PTs have always focused on the symptoms rather than what I think is the root problem. Any advice? Thank you!
Great video. I had a fib/tib break over 10 years ago. Still have limited ankle mobility in dorsiflexion. Do you think this routine would help break through scar tissue or whatever issues I still have?
It’s hard to say mate without assessing you for myself. If indicated and safe, for people it’s a matter of having a go and seeing where they land with things. At the very least the results will help better inform each person of what might be holding them back.
I have had tight calve muscles since I was a kid tried all kinds of exercises including the ones from podiatry. Hopefully these help because its really effecting me now been told by podiatry is because my right leg is tighter and one leg is now shorter.
Thanks, this is very helpful. I am unable to do the step over hang move because my calf tightness gives me pain in the balls of my feet. You mentioned doing something different on the floor - could you signpost to that variation please? Thanks again.
My calves tighten up (ane cramp HEAVILY) while running on a treadmill. Interestingly, it seems to be my Soleus that's the most tight. I'm not overly heavy (muscular build, about 16-18% bf), so I heavily suspect it has to either do with the way I run or the shoes I use
Here’s a Q for you; how long to transition from a shoe (of any type) with a heel to a flat (no heel drop) shoe, in a moderately trained (running and cycling) individual?
It can take a few weeks depending on the person James. It’s hard to be specific and depends on the quality of someone’s range of motion, strength, and overall function prior to beginning the transition. Ultimately, it should feel that each person genuinely notices things beginning to adapt and improve and that short space of time.
The best things that helped me. Stand facing the wall with toes 6” from wall. Keep heel of your feet in contact with floor at all times. Squat and try to touch your knees to the wall. Keep heel down while squatting knees forward. This method of pushing knees forward toward the wall is better than other methods. Also, Chiropractic hip and low back adjustments have helped align my low back and circulation. Feels so good and noticeable improvement.
I have a very mild form of cerebral palsy. The muscles in my right leg are tight by nature. I had Achilles lengthening surgery, but now I have found that the bones in my ankle restricts the range of motion. Even with a angle board I cannot stretch the Gastroc muscle enough.
Obviously, cerebral palsy does present its own unique challenges to lengthening tight tissue. I do hope that the tips and the video to provides some help for you michael!
So when I put my calf on a roller it’s sooooo sensitive. I take it as it’s tight? Over worked? Really tender. I guess the more I foam roll the easier it will get ya? Awesome channel mate !
Hey Chris! The tenderness can mean a few things but essentially it’s always important to respect how sensitive it feels and work within that. Sensitivity can often be a signal from the spine and I would normally ask my patients to go after any spinal stiffness first and then come back to any rolling after.
@@YourWellnessNerd thanks mate. Will do. I’ve tried that lower back foam rolling technique u mention. I’m 48, go to the gym quite a bit so I consider myself “ok” lol… but when I do that roll I feel stiff as a board. Like I’m holding my breath and just not so flexible like you are. I guess like anything gotta get into a habit of doing it. Have a history of tight hip flexors, pelvic floor etc.
I find I'm stiff from my lower back all the way down. When I go for massages when lower back is pushed I get nerve pain that shoots up to my shoulders. Yesterday I went to a store to be fitted for shoes. We tried the calf stretch in the store after I was shopping in the store and I had tingling in my hands. Also when I was trying on the shoes. I ended up getting Brook's now my calf muscle is burning. What do I do? Also my thighs in the back I can't bend my knees at night in bed. I get intense pain radiating down. Will this help this area as well? How often do I need to do this?
It’s a great question. It’s certainly something you would need to speak with someone about to figure out what’s appropriate. It may mean less foam roller more active stretching to open up any rusty joints.
I would add, my understanding is that osteo arthritis is caused by chronic pressure. If the pressure is tightness, stretching could help prevent further development.
I feel like i struggle with my right as it feels like when you over bend your wrist but at the front of my foot. That band one almost made it feel more noticeable, even when i stop the exercise. Do you know why it could be like that and is it fixable? Appreciate any feed back.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to say without assessing you for myself Ashley. Clinically be very interested in assessing how stiff your ankle joint might be to see if it might be impinging at the front. I’d also be very interested in saying how tight The muscles are that run across the front of your ankle from your shin and those on the inside, outside, and back of your calf. If there are some relatively hidden restrictions, then frame them up might provide relief.
I have bug calf’s that look good and I do play a lot of football and I was always riding a bike and I thought that’s why but now I have sciatica and I’ve also been seeing a ankle specialist with ankle problems which I’m now learning that they could both be causing my calf to look this good haha, might calf’s are tight but I’ve never found it to be a problem, I really want to adress the ankle and back issues though and that might help my calfs but I’m not to bothered about my calf’s unless they are causing ankle and back pain?
Hi Casey, from a general perspective calf muscle tightness and dysfunction is often a symptom of something else. In my experience as I mentioned in the video it can often have something to do with ankle joints restrictions and potentially lower back dysfunction. So in a way you may not have to focus on the calf tightness itself but going after any ankle and back dysfunction you may be dealing with my ultimately make those calves feel and function better if it’s all connected.
I know I need to work on my back because of slipped discs which are causing me sciatica pain but I also have an ankle/foot fusion that makes it difficult to squat because of the limited ROM. How can I work things out with this issue? I’m wondering if the ankle has made the back issues worse.
It’s often about trying to optimise what you have as best as possible. If a persons ankle is fused it’s often important to make sure the rest of the leg is as optimal as well!
this is probably the issue for me (low back dysfunction), except it's almost definitely caused by my scoliosis, which makes the foam rolling bit painful as the bone juts out a bit too much
It’s always best to speak to someone in person to get the most specific advice for you. A general perspective being hypermobile doesn’t necessarily guarantee that a person is free of tightness and stiffness. Most mobility exercises are beneficial for everyone to work on provided they can find their relevant restricted spots. The main general difference with someone who is hyper mobile is that they may also need to work on some general strength and stability exercises to help improve their joint control and position long-term.
@@YourWellnessNerd this makes a lot of sense. I've been doing a pain management programme since January and have noticed that it's the stretching after that makes the biggest difference to reducing my pain. It's just VERY difficult to find stretches that actually stretch because of my hypermobility. That and the constantly painful legs from Lipoedema & Fibromyalgia really don't help. Thank you though!
I hear you, Kathryn! For what it’s worth, pain management and an experience like fibromyalgia can often indicate a nervous system which has become heightened for whatever reason. In general for people who go through these types of things, it’s often really important to pair all the standard mobility and strength exercises up with things that help to regulate a heightened nervous system. Strategies like Deep breathing, cold plunges, saunas, general exercise, a gentle massage, heat packs, etc. all potentially help down regulate that nervous system - potentially impacting long-term pain.
It’s hard to say mate. The only way to know for sure is to have someone assess you, and/or perform some ankle mobility exercises and see if things change.
when u say tight do u mean like a slight pain? i get tight calves after i recently started getting back into running right at the top right part of my back calf seems to hurt when flexing and not flexing over the roller so should it be a slight pain ?
Typically a tightness will feel thicker and more dense. It can also feel like a knot. It can also be tender, but the symptom to focus on at the areas that feel restricted!
what about if you blast thai pads 3x a week and sparring once a week any help? My tightness in my calf's come from kicking because you have to explode onto your balls of your feet and twist at the same time. repetitive movement makes them tighten up over time. They look pretty though.
It really depends on the person mate, in theory you should be allowed to explode and twist on your ankles and legs because they are designed for that. If you experience tightness because of that, especially if one side feels tighter than the other, then there might be some underlying stiffness, weakness or tightness somewhere else.
This info sounds good but the editing makes me feel like I'm hallucinating. It keeps jumping. I know it was a youtube technique many years ago but this is mental or is it me?
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How did you go? Hope this helps!!
You forget, not everybody has waits that they can hook the band too. So what do you do I have nothing in my house that I can put my band connected to that. I know of and uses dismiss it
@@1conniequinnAnything heavy enough with something to attach to I guess? The leg of a couch or bed works.
You can tie it to something sturdy, leg of furniture. @@1conniequinn
@@1conniequinn Calf stiffness is the least of your problems if you can't figure that out for yourself.
There’s plenty of options if people need to get creative. Tree trunks, fence posts, veranda posts, bed legs, couch legs etc.
I really like the way this is presented. You’re teaching the viewer not only the movement but also a basis to why the muscle is tight in the first place and how the nervous system interacts with it. You explain in simple terms that makes it accessible to anyone that comes across the video. Great content!!
Appreciate the feedback Roman, hope it helps!
Absolutely goated I was so focused on rolling and stretching my legs that I completely overlooked my back. In just one session, I went from barely being able to get my hands past my knees to smoothly touching my toes! It's incredible what a little attention can do. Remember, it's all about balance in your stretches! Keep pushing yourself, and you'll see wonderful progress. Undefined potential is just waiting to be unlocked!
Great to hear mate! Glad you were able to find a missing piece of the puzzle!
Thank you!!! I've been having extremely tight calves and hamstrings my whole life.
Recently I started to do my own target stretches then googling till I figured out what is the muscles in that area and what they do and find track down the root of my lifelong issues.
This is how I found you and my psoas muscle.
I'm shocked that everything I learned from my own experimental stretches and research even my past issues with my back you mentioned all of it !!!!
Wish I would have found you first, but At least I know I was on the right track.
Glad you’ve since found us though! Hope it does help!!
I really admire the work you do. I've put up with a horrendous back for 45 years -- I'm sure I've spent 5 years of my life limping with sciatica. I took a bad fall at 14. Broke my coccyx, bruised the SI, threw my hips out of whack, twisted my back. But I was a rough-and-tumble kid so I got up and got on with it. I saw professional in every field just to get a diagnosis, let alone treatment. Nothing. Six years ago i said to myself, you're not broken, you're not deformed, you're not diseased -- there's every reason to think a healthy musculature wouldn't help pull the body together. I'm sure I've averaged 2 hours a day. It's hard to believe but during the covid shutdown I rode a small t'ai chi ball for 6 1/2 hours one day. The things you are showing me are tremendously beneficial. Thanks, mate...
Really happy to hear that Mike! Keep working hard mate, there’s always improvements to be made!
Good for you, Mike! Your story is inspiring! We have to be our own physician it seems!
way to go! I had bad sciatica last year (in my 30s - was my wedding year). Was so much pain I couldn't walk and actually walked with a cane. Now I'm never having that happened again. Sitting is a silent killer I think (or standing for far too long).
@@ajsingh1296 I simply said to myself, "I am not diseased, I am not disabled, I am not broken -- there is no reason why I cannot get back to normal if I stretch and strengthen the musculature of the body. I've spent at least an hour a day -- 1800 hours in 5 years -- stretching and strengthening -- almost every bit of it has been while I was on the floor. Like most mornings these days, I woke up today and instead of grief and pain I glided to the kitchen pain free. You should have seen me running for my bus the other day! Life is good -- and I'll never suffer from sciatica again. cheers, brother...
So how’s your back now in 2024, compared to 4 years ago? I’ve been dealing with back issues for a long time now too. From sports to lifting, my hips are tight my back is all messed up. Trying to figure out a remedy but it’s a journey
In my opinion, this is the most important kind of knowledge that ppl in the US & modern world need the most. I wish we were all taught about physiotherapy from an early age.
I’m probably biased but the answers to most people’s issues aren’t more complicated but more simple and a return to the basics.
That idea of tensing in a stretched position for 5 seconds or so and then relaxing that muscle and sinking deeper into the stretch immediately, rinse amd repeat..is life changing information. It almost feels like a "cheat code" for the body's flexibility system. It's incredible. I discovered it accidentally a few years ago when attempting to learn how to do splits. It worked for that too
It’s criminally underrated despite the fact that’s it’s been around for decades!
Contract-relax technique...
I learned this in yoga. Match this with breathing and it will change your life.
@@brett7011 🤓
Pnf streching
I have been battling knee issues and tight ankles for close to 3 years and never in all the PT I did, kinesitherapy, osteo or anything my problem progressed towards a solution faster than it has after trying out the stretches in your video! I had a bunion forming on my left big toe and all the toe strengthening in the world did not manage to unlock the joint like the gastrocenemius and soleus stretches. I went deep in there and I felt the inside of my foot like I never have and it's such a relief I'm crying. This is giving me so much hope that if I keep at it, tackling the roots of my issues, I won't have knee pain as much anymore. I didn't know when I would see the day I'll have mobility in my foot again. This is seriously a game changer ! Who knew it had little to do with the calf at all ?? I was strengthening it like crazy to support my weak feet, and all this time it was a combination of the back and ankle. Thank you for the work you are doing, truly appreciate it !!
Amazing Winnie, thanks for sharing! I’m really happy the video resonated with you and sounds like it’s had a big impact. Good luck getting on top of it. Feel free to pop back in and let me know how it’s been going!!
Strengthening systems that are already overactive/tight and often the exact opposite of what we need. A great example are people with chronic back pain who try to strengthen the lower back repeatedly and just put themselves in spasm. They are likely taking muscles that are already contracted to near spasm, and then tightening them further. The brain tightens/creates tension in systems to answer a problem. AKA the brain can not use the proper systems to stabilize so it must fire compensatory systems to make up for this lack of stability/strength. If you take the example of someone post car accident/trauma, the brain tightens/locks the side of the body (at a muscular level) that was impacted. This is done without our awareness and at a nervous system level. This consistent tension absolutely alters muscle balance and even activation patterns and sequencing of muscles. Hope this helps!
I just want to say two things: OW (lower back foam rolling) and WOW (immediately did a down dog and got my feet flat on the floor for the first time ever)!!!! I've had nagging soleus pain for the past 7 years and I'm excited to have found your video. An expensive physio I saw earlier this year just told me to do calf raises (ow) and didn't mention the lower back once. THANK YOU
Really happy to hear you may have found the root cause finally! As simple as it may sound once you figure it out, I’m not sure the industry is as aware of the back’s role in these things as they hopefully will be in the future. Good luck with your rehab!
one of the best self care videos i've seen. I've always known part of my problem was ankle mobility. The band mobility stretch is what I've been looking for!
Really happy to hear it resonated Jacob! Hope the BAS hits the spot!
Excellent advice. Tightening and then relaxing the muscles while stretching on a step did wonders for my acute problem. Thank you.
Awesome to hear!
Danke!
Appreciate it mate! Hope it helps!
Thanks! Excellent approach, looking at root causes. I’ll be sure to watch your other videos and see if this 70-year-old ex-runner’s body can remember how it’s supposed to work.
I appreciate that mate thank you! Good luck!
This is excellent! I’ve been searching for someone who ACTUALLY knows what they’re talking about and can back it up. Nice one.
Hope it genuinely provides results Chris!
Great content - I've wondered why I have tight calf muscles for many years and these excercises are helping immediately.
Great Robert!
Excellent presentation, having suffered from tight calfs all my running life the excercises will be most helpful
Hope it was helpful Peter!
😊thank you this was very informative and i could feel the exercises working . I have always had very muscular claves from dancing and gymnastics when i was young . Now in my 60s I’m in constant pain and it affects my walking , i love hiking and attempting challenging trails . Will keep persevering with this routine.
Hope it helps Debbie!
I had tight calf muscles forever. They always looked bulky and I hated them so much. Now in my 40s I was dealing with Morton’s neuroma and bunionettes last year. I joined a gym, worked on mobility, leg stretches and strength and now all those problems are gone.
🤓
I suffered from this also.. flares up once every while..
Do you have wide toe box shoes now?
@cholita.1979 I may have the same issues as you. Do you mind sharing what type of gym exercises you did?
8:30 hopefully works for me.
@@oliviade5048 hope it does too!
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. I want to understand the why the root cause. This makes so much sense! I’ve been to PT, Chiro, podiatry for right calves, foot pain, tendinitis in the ankle, SI instability. No one was seeing the big picture and making these connections. Thank you!!! You are brilliant. If you have time I’d love to connect with some specific questions.
Great to hear Ashlea! Feel free to reach out to me at contact@yourwellnessnerd.com
You would think that in all these years of therapist doing these things that they would have an idea of what to do or simply long-term, you know
You would think that in all these years of therapist doing these things that they would have an idea of what to do or simply long-term, you know. I'm very grateful for this guy. There is hope.
I’m sure wearing high heels daily for so many years has not helped. This is something I need to do often, these are good tips and I’ve learned some new ones. I was always told I needed fancy sneakers to help the situation but once I went to completely flat sneakers that made a big difference, I no longer have the pain I used to have in my knees and hips.
That was me as a cocktail and food server for many years in my twenties. Then having 4 children , all c sections, but then this past February i fell in the snow and fractured my left knee/ tibia and I'm thinking that overcompensating with my right side put me into sciatica which i had had before here and there but never long or hard. This time it was. So the other day i was in walmart and felt the pain of sciatica but walked too fast , almost a small jog and it immediately tightened the calf and twisted my back of my knee.. ouch . I am hardly walking but im making myself. Im sorry you go through this
really love your videos and the amount of details and depth it has! def need more views🙌🏼🙌🏼💯
Awesome to hear! Hope it helps!!
Aloha my friend Mahalo Nui Loa on the calf loosen up technic I appreciate you sharing your gifted talents 🤙💚
Hope it helps mate!
This is terrific. I definitely felt better after stretching/releasing my lower back.
Awesome to hear mate! Glad it helped!
Excellent video, really beneficial and informative
Glad to hear it may have resonated Daniel!
Going to give this method a try for a few weeks. I had assumed that my calf/soleus tightness is the result of poor prep and recovery for running at my heavy weight. I am a big man and until that weight sheds, I assumed my struggles would continue. I'll try this out since I have had back/sciatic nerve issues. Thanks!
Hope it helps Cameron! Feel free to let me know how you go with it!
Excellent video. Made me ponder about a bunch of things.
Keep it up mate.
Appreciate it Ivan. Glad it resonated with you!
Very informative video, I've never heard anyone speak about it like this. And I've had tight calfs since I was a child, been to different practitioners to try and fix it but no one ever talked about it coming from my back or anything other than the foot
Hi Hannah, I hope the tips in the video and genuinely help you find that potential missing piece of the puzzle. I’m really passionate about trying to understand the root cause of why things happen to the body, and over the last 20 years, my clinical experience has shown me just how important, and criminally underrated the spine is in all of this stuff!
What a great video! Thanks so much. Plenty of food for thought there. Love the wisdom of the holistic advice and approach...you have a new subscriber! All the best x
Glad you liked this as well :)
Thank you for this information.
really good video thanks for this!
Appreciate it, hope it helps!
This was amazing. I did this for the first time today before a sprint workout and it is the best my calves have felt in years! Thank you so much
That’s awesome to hear mate! Really happy to hear it was so impactful!
My ankles have been like an old cement mixer for years. Just did the banded joint mobilization and although they didn't move further at this stage they definitely move much easier. Will add this to my routine. Thanks!
Hope it helps Darryl!
One stop shop for Calves!! You should do other videos for all major muscle groups :). Well done....I love the Trigger Point massage technique explained
Thanks, I’m not sure if you’re being facetious or not haha!
thankyou for sharing your experience !!!! thankyou for giving me steps towards bettering my calves !!!
You’re welcome! Hope it helps!
Very helpful 👌
Thanks 😊
Glad it resonated Gerard!
❤ you gained a subscriber this is awesome. I’ve been addicted to cardio for years (running 9 plus miles a day until my overuse injury last fall). I’m now prioritizing stretching and strength with my cardio! I found out with my body I have to. Thanks so much.
Welcome aboard Amelia! Glad the video resonated!
Will try that later today. Great Video.
Hope it helps mate, feel free to let me know how you go!
Awesome Thank you
You’re welcome Lynn! Glad it may have resonated with you!
This video was very helpful. Thank you so much for making this video.
You’re welcome, Brian! I’m happy to hear it may have resonated with you!
Wow! Thank you! I feel like i can go forward with this info and really make progress.
I hope it helps you Shelley!
Thanks! Really helps!
Awesome to hear Paul!
Very helpful. Very well done. Thank you!
Appreciate the kind words mate! Hope it helped!
I love that banded ankle mobilty movement. After years of volleyball my left ankle is pretty stiff and i've developed some other foot issues. I've done a lot of ankle mobility exercises but band really helps to get deep into the joints.
It really is a great addition to anyone’s mobility routine!
After spinal fusion I have had the worse issues with my legs. The minute he said the back… I couldn’t agree more. Great video!
Extremely knowledgeable and well said
Appreciate it mate, hope it really helps you!
Thank you for the great explanation, I could never get relief in my calves, this makes so much sense.
Really hope the information in the video does genuinely help you, Cristina!
Are the potential causes arranged from most probable to least probable? You are a genius!
More so just which ones I felt were more important to discuss! Each person may have different issues
A lot of good info fast. I subscribed.
Glad it resonated mate and welcome aboard!
Mate, thanks so much for this video. I'm trying to get back into running and my calves are ridiculously tight and i keep pulling them. These exercises have made immediate difference to slacken them off. Thank you! Subbed 👍
Awesome to hear David! Welcome aboard!
thank you so much, no idea how much this is helped me get moving again
Glad it sounds like it may have helped Gareth!
Thank you love the info 😊
I hope it’s helpful, Leah!
I recently had a really bad high ankle sprain. While in a boot and in recovery I gained 17 lbs. I also have a mild scoliosis. My ankle is almost back to normal but I have a ton of stiffness due to the sprain. I am back at the gym and have begun my training again to drop the excess weight. What I recently noticed is the severity of the tightness in my calves. I will try this video today for relief because nothing else seems to help. 🙏🏽 than you for this video
Hope it does help Esme!
Very helpful, thanks for your help.
Glad it helped!
Thank you I have big fatty calves that are always tight this will help!
Hope it does help mate!
Legend, thanks for sharing knowledge
Glad it resonated mate!
Thank you! Definitely was the front of my ankles.
Awesome Stacey!
So helpful thanks. My ankle, calf, and thigh muscle all have a fairly permanent cramp or tightness. I will work on them to see if they will relax.
Hope the tips were helpful Loren!
Your right lower back issuse hams to the calfs , have to fix em all al my issuse nice tips buddy . I'm back work out lover me ill get to work thanks again
Thanks buddy. Really thanks.❤
Hope it helped!
As a psychologist/therapist I can tell you that this holistic approach (many different things coming together for healing) is the key to best symptom reduction and overall health.. The Wellness Nerd , and I watch dozens of videos, is the best at this I've seen, at explaining things very well, and most importantly: giving me options that no one else is telling me drawn from this wider and deeper knowledge. This video should go viral for not just the particular problem addressed, but for the wisdom of health. Dr. Steve
I appreciate that mate, thank you. A more holistic approach tends to make things more simple and less complicated once you get the right perspective!
Great and informative video! How often would you say you can do these exercises? Every day? Every other day? Once a week?
Every day is usually fine for most people!
I have a bulging disc with arthritis that has resulted in painful sciatica running from my ischial area down to the outside of my leg. I've been working on calf raises this week n noticed i started getting sciatica running down the center back of my hamstring to my calf area for the first time. I couldn't even swim my laps tonight or walk in the pool without my calf tingling n hurting. I never realized my calf was connected to my spinal condition. Thank you for explaining. I realize i need to go slower on strengthening my calves.
Good luck with your progress Mary!
Have soleus muscle pain...over did biking! Ugh has been tight
thank you for this video!
Hope it helps!
can you tell me what helped you? i do get the same thing from muscle overuse
@@annipsy2185I actually went to PT for two sessions. Learned the exercises needed and was given a routine sheet by them to follow. Helped me a lot! Stretching the calves was main thing abd rubber the calf. Watching This video helped me!
@@annipsy2185did get a stretch band and used it when laying on the floor to stretch my calf!
I got sciatica decades after my L4/5 bulging disc problem.
My physiotherapist said it was my lower back that caused my PF.
My calves are so tight now,regardless of stretching twice a day for almost 3 years
Good luck with your recovery!
Woah. The lower back stretch fixed ankle and calf pain. Subbed.
Awesome to hear mate, welcome aboard!
bravo, just fixed my whole calves in 15 minutes
Hope it did help mate
This is legitimately fascinating, I’m a photographer and mostly shoot on tripod so bending forward. O shoot video using a gimbal too which gives me back ache, then I’m editing sat down a lot too. I get a lot of tight calf issues and poor ankle mobility issues, my calf’s ache when I go bare foot. I wonder if I have back issues from all this that is causing calf and ankle tightness!! I’ll try this technique to see if it helps!
Glad to hear it may have resonated with you Steve! Hope it helps you get to source of those issues!
Thank you. You mentioned few posible reasons why my calves are tjght and walking painful. 1st beeing IKEA chair
Hope it helps you piece things together!
Godbless you sir.
Hope it helps!
I always appreciate your videos for your exlanations to get to the root of the problem. I'll try to keep this short - when I was a kid, I inhaled a tooth which had to be extracted via thoracotomy on my right side. That was a few decades ago so the incision/scarring crudely wraps around my rib cage. I have lots of muscle/nerve pain problems on my right side from my neck to my rt SI joint and down my leg which I attribute to this. When I perform the foam rolling on my back as described in the video, the area of the spine immediately adjacent to the scar is tender and painful. An xray from years ago shows the spine curving toward the scar which is tight. My PTs have always focused on the symptoms rather than what I think is the root problem. Any advice? Thank you!
Maybe look into DMSO or castor oil to soften up scar tissue
2:33 this is awesome . Just getting started here after a lifetime of tight muscles and some of it sounds like voodoo. But this speaks to me
Awesome Bill! Hope it really helps!
ill try!!!
Hope it helps!
Great video. I had a fib/tib break over 10 years ago. Still have limited ankle mobility in dorsiflexion. Do you think this routine would help break through scar tissue or whatever issues I still have?
It’s hard to say mate without assessing you for myself. If indicated and safe, for people it’s a matter of having a go and seeing where they land with things. At the very least the results will help better inform each person of what might be holding them back.
I have had tight calve muscles since I was a kid tried all kinds of exercises including the ones from podiatry. Hopefully these help because its really effecting me now been told by podiatry is because my right leg is tighter and one leg is now shorter.
Hope the video does help Rebecca!
Thanks, this is very helpful. I am unable to do the step over hang move because my calf tightness gives me pain in the balls of my feet. You mentioned doing something different on the floor - could you signpost to that variation please? Thanks again.
Hi Debbie! Was this what you were looking for? Calf Stretch - Gastrocnemius
ua-cam.com/video/4NUHOCw_XA0/v-deo.html. Hope it helps!
Thanks. That's my regular calf stretch.
How often should you do this weekly
Daily often proves to be strong enough, but ultimately the real answer is often enough to feel meaningful change.
My calves tighten up (ane cramp HEAVILY) while running on a treadmill.
Interestingly, it seems to be my Soleus that's the most tight.
I'm not overly heavy (muscular build, about 16-18% bf), so I heavily suspect it has to either do with the way I run or the shoes I use
Hope the tips help you figure out those issues, mate!
I have neuropathy in my feet just numbness. How can I heel my feet so so I can walk again without a Walker ? Thank you Anthony
I am interested in trying your exercises..rather than holding twist and find the irritated or tight spots etc. will report back in a month
Good luck with it Sherry! Let me know how you find things!
Here’s a Q for you; how long to transition from a shoe (of any type) with a heel to a flat (no heel drop) shoe, in a moderately trained (running and cycling) individual?
It can take a few weeks depending on the person James. It’s hard to be specific and depends on the quality of someone’s range of motion, strength, and overall function prior to beginning the transition. Ultimately, it should feel that each person genuinely notices things beginning to adapt and improve and that short space of time.
@@YourWellnessNerd thank you!
The best things that helped me.
Stand facing the wall with toes 6” from wall. Keep heel of your feet in contact with floor at all times. Squat and try to touch your knees to the wall. Keep heel down while squatting knees forward.
This method of pushing knees forward toward the wall is better than other methods.
Also, Chiropractic hip and low back adjustments have helped align my low back and circulation. Feels so good and noticeable improvement.
Glad you’re seeing improvements mate!
I have a very mild form of cerebral palsy. The muscles in my right leg are tight by nature. I had Achilles lengthening surgery, but now I have found that the bones in my ankle restricts the range of motion. Even with a angle board I cannot stretch the Gastroc muscle enough.
Obviously, cerebral palsy does present its own unique challenges to lengthening tight tissue. I do hope that the tips and the video to provides some help for you michael!
So when I put my calf on a roller it’s sooooo sensitive. I take it as it’s tight? Over worked? Really tender. I guess the more I foam roll the easier it will get ya? Awesome channel mate !
Hey Chris! The tenderness can mean a few things but essentially it’s always important to respect how sensitive it feels and work within that. Sensitivity can often be a signal from the spine and I would normally ask my patients to go after any spinal stiffness first and then come back to any rolling after.
@@YourWellnessNerd thanks mate. Will do. I’ve tried that lower back foam rolling technique u mention. I’m 48, go to the gym quite a bit so I consider myself “ok” lol… but when I do that roll I feel stiff as a board. Like I’m holding my breath and just not so flexible like you are. I guess like anything gotta get into a habit of doing it. Have a history of tight hip flexors, pelvic floor etc.
I had horrible foot pain that my physical therapist discovered my L4-6 was out and I had a super tight bunch of muscles in my bum.
Glad they got to the bottom of it all!
I find I'm stiff from my lower back all the way down. When I go for massages when lower back is pushed I get nerve pain that shoots up to my shoulders. Yesterday I went to a store to be fitted for shoes. We tried the calf stretch in the store after I was shopping in the store and I had tingling in my hands. Also when I was trying on the shoes. I ended up getting Brook's now my calf muscle is burning. What do I do? Also my thighs in the back I can't bend my knees at night in bed. I get intense pain radiating down. Will this help this area as well? How often do I need to do this?
And what if one has osteoporosis in the lower back?One could not use that foam roller, or?
It’s a great question. It’s certainly something you would need to speak with someone about to figure out what’s appropriate. It may mean less foam roller more active stretching to open up any rusty joints.
I would add, my understanding is that osteo arthritis is caused by chronic pressure. If the pressure is tightness, stretching could help prevent further development.
I feel like i struggle with my right as it feels like when you over bend your wrist but at the front of my foot. That band one almost made it feel more noticeable, even when i stop the exercise. Do you know why it could be like that and is it fixable? Appreciate any feed back.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to say without assessing you for myself Ashley. Clinically be very interested in assessing how stiff your ankle joint might be to see if it might be impinging at the front. I’d also be very interested in saying how tight The muscles are that run across the front of your ankle from your shin and those on the inside, outside, and back of your calf. If there are some relatively hidden restrictions, then frame them up might provide relief.
slower running helps greatly and roll
I have bug calf’s that look good and I do play a lot of football and I was always riding a bike and I thought that’s why but now I have sciatica and I’ve also been seeing a ankle specialist with ankle problems which I’m now learning that they could both be causing my calf to look this good haha, might calf’s are tight but I’ve never found it to be a problem, I really want to adress the ankle and back issues though and that might help my calfs but I’m not to bothered about my calf’s unless they are causing ankle and back pain?
Hi Casey, from a general perspective calf muscle tightness and dysfunction is often a symptom of something else. In my experience as I mentioned in the video it can often have something to do with ankle joints restrictions and potentially lower back dysfunction. So in a way you may not have to focus on the calf tightness itself but going after any ankle and back dysfunction you may be dealing with my ultimately make those calves feel and function better if it’s all connected.
I know I need to work on my back because of slipped discs which are causing me sciatica pain but I also have an ankle/foot fusion that makes it difficult to squat because of the limited ROM. How can I work things out with this issue? I’m wondering if the ankle has made the back issues worse.
It’s often about trying to optimise what you have as best as possible. If a persons ankle is fused it’s often important to make sure the rest of the leg is as optimal as well!
this is probably the issue for me (low back dysfunction), except it's almost definitely caused by my scoliosis, which makes the foam rolling bit painful as the bone juts out a bit too much
Always important to find an object that feels respectful to your specific spine!
I've always struggled with horrifically tight calves but I'm hypermobile. Is it ok to do the exercises you suggest if I'm hypermobile??
It’s always best to speak to someone in person to get the most specific advice for you. A general perspective being hypermobile doesn’t necessarily guarantee that a person is free of tightness and stiffness. Most mobility exercises are beneficial for everyone to work on provided they can find their relevant restricted spots. The main general difference with someone who is hyper mobile is that they may also need to work on some general strength and stability exercises to help improve their joint control and position long-term.
@@YourWellnessNerd this makes a lot of sense. I've been doing a pain management programme since January and have noticed that it's the stretching after that makes the biggest difference to reducing my pain. It's just VERY difficult to find stretches that actually stretch because of my hypermobility. That and the constantly painful legs from Lipoedema & Fibromyalgia really don't help. Thank you though!
I hear you, Kathryn! For what it’s worth, pain management and an experience like fibromyalgia can often indicate a nervous system which has become heightened for whatever reason. In general for people who go through these types of things, it’s often really important to pair all the standard mobility and strength exercises up with things that help to regulate a heightened nervous system. Strategies like Deep breathing, cold plunges, saunas, general exercise, a gentle massage, heat packs, etc. all potentially help down regulate that nervous system - potentially impacting long-term pain.
Now what about shin tightness..?
I have some videos on shin issues if you’re happy to check them out!
Hi cannot do the foot dip on step goes into plantar
So can lower back arthritis cause tight calves.which than can lead to planter fasaciitis?😢. Likely a chain reaction 😮
Mechanically it can work out that way, but there doesn’t have to be arthritis, just mechanical dysfunction
I have tight calves. When I run my ankles hurt the next day. Does that mean I have ankle tightness?
It’s hard to say mate. The only way to know for sure is to have someone assess you, and/or perform some ankle mobility exercises and see if things change.
Wow, once I rolled back then calf’s released tightness
Awesome to hear you found a connection there!
when u say tight do u mean like a slight pain? i get tight calves after i recently started getting back into running right at the top right part of my back calf seems to hurt when flexing and not flexing over the roller so should it be a slight pain ?
Typically a tightness will feel thicker and more dense. It can also feel like a knot. It can also be tender, but the symptom to focus on at the areas that feel restricted!
what about if you blast thai pads 3x a week and sparring once a week any help? My tightness in my calf's come from kicking because you have to explode onto your balls of your feet and twist at the same time. repetitive movement makes them tighten up over time. They look pretty though.
It really depends on the person mate, in theory you should be allowed to explode and twist on your ankles and legs because they are designed for that. If you experience tightness because of that, especially if one side feels tighter than the other, then there might be some underlying stiffness, weakness or tightness somewhere else.
This info sounds good but the editing makes me feel like I'm hallucinating. It keeps jumping. I know it was a youtube technique many years ago but this is mental
or is it me?
Appreciate the feedback mate, always looking to improve the presentation