Calf Pin-and-Stretch Technique (Patreon)

Hello Friends,

I have a friend who swears that when she massages the tension out of her calves, her lower back pain disappears. She told me this several years ago and I’ve thought about it more than probably I’ve needed to, but it sort of fascinated me…or should I say, FASCIANATED me. Look at this skelly bones image of the back line of fascia:

Your calves are a pretty hefty part of that line, don’t you think? (Also can we take a nerd moment to recognize HOW COOL is it that the same line of connective tissue runs from the bottom of your feet all the way to your brow bone!) I believe there are two possible reasons that working out excessive tension in your calves can create a reaction like the one my friend has.

1. You have, as you can see, one continuous line of connective tissue from the arch of your foot to the top of your skull. If there is a place within this line that is holding tension, it will inhibit the flexibility of the entire line and that can present as pain anywhere in the line—even super high up in the form of headaches.

2. Excessive tension in the calves creates rigidity in your gait (i.e. your walk), which means that your soft tissue isn’t able to absorb the shock with ease. The shock from the ground stops in your soft tissues and bone structure. This can present as joint pain in the knees, hips, spine. If your fascia is in good, soft shape, the pep will come back into your step and your soft tissues have the pliability to absorb the shock with suppleness. Think Terminator vs. Martha Graham.

So what do we do? Cue this week’s free technique: the calf pin-and-stretch. We’ve done the calf massage on the roller before, and you’ve probably done calf stretches on your own. Combining them? Mind blowing. Tension blowing, actually.

Give it a try. <3

Love,

Maggie