Calf Pain Differential Diagnoses

• Muscle strain (gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris)
• Muscle contusion (gastrocnemius)
• Superficial posterior compartment syndrome
• Deep posterior compartment syndrome
• Referred pain (lumbar spine, myofascial structures, superior tibiofibular joint, baker's cyst, knee posterior cruciate ligament, knee posterior capsular sprain)
• Vascular entrapment (popliteal artery, endo-fibrosis of external iliac artery)
• Nerve entrapment (tibial, sural)
• Stress fractures (fibula, posterior cortex of the tibia)
• Varicose veins e.g. superficial thrombosis
• Deep vein thrombosis