What is gastrocnemius slide?
A gastrocnemius slide surgery is indicated for patients who have a contracture (tightness) in their outer calf muscle (the gastrocnemius), and have failed non-operative management.
How long does it take to recover from gastrocnemius recession?
Gastrocnemius Recession Recovery You’ll be in a boot or similar for several months while the tendon heals properly. You can usually begin touch down weight bearing (touching your foot to the floor) about at 6-12 weeks. After gastrocnemius recession surgery, return to full activity takes on average about 7 months (2).
What happens after the gastrocnemius recession?
After a gastroc release, some patients experience nerve injury that results in irritation or numbness over the outside of the heel. This usually is temporary. In addition, some patients may notice a difference in the appearance of one calf compared to the other and temporary calf weakness.
What is gastrocnemius recession surgery?
Gastrocnemius recession lengthens the muscles and tendons at the back of the leg, allowing the heel to shift downward into a more natural position. This outpatient procedure is used in the correction of conditions such as flatfoot, chronic Achilles tendonitis, or equinus (commonly called toe walking).
Can you walk after calf lengthening surgery?
Most patients are able to walk straight after surgery and do not need a plaster. Usually done under general anaesthetic. A cut is made on the back of the calf and part of the muscle/gristle is cut and allowed to lengthen. There are many variations to this operation.
Is gastrocnemius recession painful?
Background: Gastrocnemius recession is performed to correct an isolated gastrocnemius equinus contracture of the ankle that may accompany foot and ankle pathology in the adult. It has been proposed that this equinus deformity leads to excessive strain throughout the foot, thus causing pain.
Can you walk after gastrocnemius recession surgery?
During the procedure, the surgeon will make a small, two to three inch incision in the inner calf, about halfway between the knee and ankle. The muscle is lengthened, and stitched on the inside and on the surface. Patients may walk immediately after the surgery when it is done in isolation.
What causes gastrocnemius recession?
Background: Gastrocnemius recession is a surgical technique commonly performed on individuals who suffer from symptoms related to the restricted ankle dorsiflexion that results when tight superficial posterior compartment musculature causes an equinus contracture.
What is a gastrocnemius slide surgery?
Gastrocnemius Slide. (Strayer Procedure) Indications. A gastrocnemius recession, or Strayer Procedure, is an operation designed to release the gastrocnemius muscle as a means of restoring it to a more normal anatomical length that promotes healthier gait, stance, and function of the foot and ankle.
What are the gastrocnemius and soleus?
The gastrocnemius (gastroc) and the soleus are two muscles that make up the calf. The gastroc is the larger and more superficial of the two muscles. The soleus is a deeper muscle within the lower leg. The gastroc tendon combines with the soleus tendon to form the Achilles tendon.
What is a gastrocnemius lengthening procedure?
The procedure is indicated for patients who have only tightness on the outer calf muscle (gastrocnemius) as a cause for their equinus contracture, rather than tightness of both muscles (whereby a full Achilles tendon lengthening would be required to have the same positive clinical effect).
How to train the gastrocnemius muscle?
Change Angles: Seeing that your gastrocnemius muscle has two heads it is important to hit each head from a different position. You should do different varieties of calf raises with different feet positioning by pointing your toes outwards or inwards.