The gastrocnemius muscle (from the ancient Greek gaster, meaning stomach, and knêmê, meaning leg) corresponds to two bundles of the triceps sural muscle, a muscle belonging to the calf.

Position. The lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscles constitute two bundles of the triceps sural muscle. The latter is a muscle located in the posterior compartment of the calf, located on the posterior part of the leg between the back of the knee and the ankle. The sural triceps muscle gives the fleshy shape to the calf and is made up of three bundles: the soleus muscle, the lateral gastrocnemius, and the medial gastrocnemius. These two heads, lateral and medial, are located on the soleus muscle and give the round shape to the calf. (1)

Origin. The lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscles insert onto the lateral epicondyle and the medial epicondyle of the femur, respectively.

Termination. The gastrocnemius muscle fits over the lamina of the calcaneal tendon, or Achilles tendon, to attach to the tuberosity of the calcaneus.

Structure. The gastrocnemius muscle is a skeletal muscle, ie a museum placed under the voluntary control of the central nervous system.

Vascularization and innervation. The gastrocnemius muscle is innervated by the tibial nerve (3).

Leg flexor. The gastrocnemius muscle allows flexion of the leg. (2)

Muscle pain without lesions. (6)

• Cramp. Sometimes occurring in the gastrocnemius muscle, it corresponds to an involuntary, painful and temporary contraction of a muscle.
• Contracture. It is an involuntary, painful, and permanent contraction of a muscle, such as the gastrocnemius muscle.

Muscle injury. The gastrocnemius muscle can suffer muscle damage, accompanied by pain. (6)

• Elongation. First stage of muscle damage, elongation corresponds to a stretching of the muscle caused by microtears and resulting in muscle disorganization.
• Breakdown. Second stage of muscle damage, the breakdown corresponds to a rupture of muscle fibers.
• Rupture. The last stage of muscle damage, it corresponds to a total rupture of a muscle.

Tendinopathies. They designate all the pathologies that can occur in the tendons. (7) In the gastrocnemius muscle and the Achilles tendon, they are mainly manifested by pain in the foot during exertion. The causes of these pathologies can be varied. The origin can be intrinsic with genetic predispositions as well as extrinsic, with for example bad positions during sports practice (4).

• Tendinitis: It is an inflammation of the tendons.

Achilles tendon rupture. It is a tearing of tissue that causes the Achilles tendon to rupture. Symptoms are sudden pain and inability to walk. The origin is still poorly understood (5).

Drug treatments. Depending on the pathology diagnosed, different treatments may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation.

Surgical treatment. Depending on the type of pathology diagnosed, surgery may be performed.

Physical treatment. Physical therapies, through specific exercise programs, can be prescribed such as physiotherapy or physiotherapy.

Physical examination. First, a clinical examination is performed in order to observe and assess the symptoms perceived by the patient.

Medical imaging exam. X-ray, CT, or MRI exams can be used to confirm or further the diagnosis.

Common pathology in tennis, the term « tennis leg » refers to muscle damage in the calf, most often a strain.