Chad Fox, Author at FootWear Advisor

Being an active person, who runs, and exercises regularly can be a wonderful experience, but for those who get tight calves and pain, there can be a lot of discomfort. In-order to avoid all this you need the correct shoes for tight calves. Let's learn more! Choosing the right shoes for tight calves can help reduce pain when running or exercising. With extra support in the arch or heel of your shoe, you can help protect the areas that need it the most. Having the right size shoe helps with support and health. Tight Calves is something that many people suffer from when running or doing other types of sports activities. When running it is not just your knees or hips that can become painful areas. Your calves help protect the bones in your legs and feet. Issues like tight calves can come at any age and there are a few ways to reduce the pain and the cause. Having the right kind of footwear can be the easiest way to give support to your feet and foot posture that can reduce the chance of calf strains and swelling in your leg muscles. We’ve made this guide for you to understand what causes calf pain and to give you our top picks for best shoes for tight calves. What Causes Calf Pain? Calf pain is something that people deal with for multiple reasons. A lot of things like running, exercising and sports can cause our muscles to strain. There are a few main causes such as bad arch support, a shoe that doesn’t fit right, and not stretching beforehand. You may get calf pain because of other conditions, however, improving your footwear can help in any case. Having the wrong shoes can cause tight calf muscles. If your arch is raised on your footwear then you can be at risk of getting calf pain. A wider toe box can oftentimes help reduce the chance of tight calves. Your shoe needs to fit just right since it’s the part of your body that is making contact with the ground. How Do You Loosen Tight Calf Muscles? There are a few good methods for loosening calf muscles. If you have already tried a few pairs of shoes but nothing is helping you may want to try these techniques for loosening your muscles. StretchingChange your running techniqueBlanket massageThe RICE Method There are multiple stretches that you can do to help relieve tight calves. You do them by standing against a wall, using a chair, and bending while stretching. Stretching can be useful before you start any activities. You may be getting tight calves from running. If so you will want to start with trying to find the right footwear. If you have ruled out shoes, then you can change your running techniques. That can help to shift your weight to the right position making it easier on your calves. There are also ways to use a blanket to massage your calves by rolling it up and placing it on your legs and leaning back onto the rolled-up blanket. The RICE method works well for many types of injuries, it stands for (rest, ice, compress, elevate.) If you are having a lot of pain this method can be a great way to help relax the muscles. Protecting Your Calves To help prevent calf pain you can start with finding the correct footwear. In many cases, strains in leg muscles are caused by not having the right support in your shoes. If you are not a runner and still get cramps from time to time then you will want to start by looking at the shoes you have. For those who wear shoes with high heels, boots, or work shoes with padded heels, then you may want to consider a flatter shoe with plenty of toe room. For runners, you should look for running shoes that are made to have ankle support, cushioning, and arch support. Once you have found your awesome fitting footwear you will need to stretch before and after a run. Stretching before you start any activities can reduce tightening in calves and your legs with thank you later. The Best Shoes for Tight Calves The best shoes for calf pain and strains are running shoes and shoes that provide the best arch support and comfort. The shoe must have room in the toes and fit your feet just right. An uncomfortable shoe is a common cause of tight calves. Our top pick for best shoes for tight calves: New Balance 410v5 Running ShoesSaucony Originals Men's Shadow 5000Nike Air Zoom Structure 22TSLA Outside Sneaker Trail Running Shoes These shoes are some of the best footwear for anyone who gets calf pain, strains, and more. Try on more than one pair and make sure to get the one that has room in the toes. They should fit well but not too tight. This along with the correct arch support and you should see results. New Balance 410v5 Running Shoes New Balance offers many great choices in footwear. These 410v5 running shoes have a lot of features that are designed to keep your feet and body healthy. Running shoes are a great choice for calf pain because they have all of the added support and cushioning. If you are not a runner, but are experiencing tight calves, having a good pair of running shoes will help keep your legs healthy and happy. Pros:✅ New Balance shoes are quality shoes for an affordable price.Cons:⛔ They need to be broken in with a few miles of walking. A great pair of shoes that can improve the health of your body. Compare prices on Amazon here. Saucony Originals Men's Shadow 5000 These shoes are nice looking and come packed with many of the features you would expect for a good running shoe that provides you the protection you need. These shoes have a thick cushioned heel that gives you the arch support and comfort that you need to keep your legs in top condition. The material of the shoe is soft and flexible which makes them comfortable and not too tight. You will want to make sure you get a pair with wide enough toes, leave a little wiggle room. Pros:✅ Lots of cushion and high-quality materials.Cons:⛔ Limited amount of color options. These shoes look and feel great, you won’t regret investing in these Saucony Originals. Compare prices on Amazon here. Nike Air Zoom Structure 22 There is no doubt that Nike makes some of the most solid, high-quality shoes out there. These Nike Air Zooms are great running shoes that have all of the support, comfort, and durability that you would expect from Nike. This pair of running shoes has unique features such as a cushioned sole that wraps around the shoe. These features all help to reduce the chance of getting strains and pulled muscles such as tight calves. They have breathable materials that make running and sweating easier to deal with and faster to dry out. These are probably my favorite pair of running shoes on this list. Pros:✅ A brand you can trust.Cons:⛔ These are pricy but a great investment in your health. These shoes are cool looking and feel the best on your feet. They have all the bases covered in the protection of your feet and legs. Compare prices on Amazon here. TSLA Outside Sneaker Trail Running Shoes When you are a runner and need a pair of shoes to deliver something a little bit extra, these trail running shoes have everything you need to have the right foot and ankle support. With these TSLA Outside Sneaker trail running shoes, you will be able to hike and run with ease, knowing that your arch support is good and that your feet are protected. Trail running shoes are built with higher-quality materials to keep your feet safe from all types of terrain, this is a great benefit for those who get tight calves since they offer most of the features that help against strains and pulling muscles. Pros:✅ You can do more than just walk and run in these.Cons:⛔ They cost a little more but the added features make up for the cost. These shoes are a great choice for anyone who needs extra support for their feet and muscles. Compare prices on Amazon here. “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”Haruki Murakami Related Questions Can the wrong shoe cause calf pain? The wrong shoe can be the cause of some people's tight calves. The shoe should fit you well, be comfortable, and have the correct arch and ankle support. A shoe that has too high of a heel or one that does not fit correctly can cause calf pain. Do they have to be running shoes? You do not need running shoes to help avoid tight calves. You just need a shoe that fits you well, with a low heel and the right support. Many styles of shoes offer great footwear, but running shoes have more of the medical benefits.