Acute tears of the medial head of the gastrocnemius.

Twenty-five patients with acute tears of the medial head of the gastrocnemius were evaluated in follow-up from 1 to 3 years after injury. The patients were treated with a heel lift, calf sleeve, and physical therapy. The majority of the patients were men who injured their dominant lower extremity in one explosive episode. Cybex II testing revealed no significant difference in the plantarflexion strength of the noninjured and injured extremity after healing. All patients returned to their previous level of athletic activity.