I tore my calf muscle quite badly 5 weeks ago. It initially was very swollen and very bruised. It’s absolutely fine to walk on now and I have been using a massage gun on the area frequently. My question is how long before I can reintroduce exercise, such as light running etc?

A calf injury such as this will generally take about 6-12 weeks to heal, though this time span may vary from person to person depending on how bad the injury was. I would allow at least 6 weeks to pass before engaging in any harsh activity. If you feel able, in the meantime some gentle stretching and walking may be suitable.

When 6 weeks have passed, you could begin to introduce a little more exercise. However, make sure to build up the intensity gradually rather than jumping straight back to your pre-injury activities. You could try some fast-paced walking, for example, before moving onto jogging and then finally onto a run after the 12 weeks have passed.

Before doing any more vigorous activities, such as jogging, make sure you have full strength and range of motion back in your leg. Also, ensure you can walk quickly without any pain or swelling.

If the problem worsens after exercise or continues to cause pain, please consult a physiotherapist who will be able to offer exercises tailored specifically to your injury.