Also Read
Having large calves can interfere with appearance for some people. Although it has a share in large calves, actually there is not so much fat under the skin of the calves. Basically, the cause of large calves is the calf muscles which are also large.
Large calf muscles and fat can be influenced by a number of factors, namely genetics, type of exercise, and weight gain. In addition, swelling in the leg area due to health problems can also be the cause of large calves.
Possible causes of large calves
Here are a number of factors that cause large calves.
1. Genetic factors
Most of the causes of large calves are genetic factors. If you have parents and siblings who have large calves, then you are more likely to have the same calves.
2. Increase in muscle mass
The formation or increase in calf muscle mass can make them appear larger in size. Here are a number of factors that can trigger the increase in calf muscle mass:
If you are diligent in sports with high resistance, such as brisk walking, jumping, climbing, the chances of making your calf muscles become bigger are higher.
A gait that uses the front legs like a ballet dancer or the muscles in the front of the lower legs are weak, can also cause the formation of the calf muscles. Achilles tendon shortening can make your calves appear shorter and larger.
3. Add fat
High-fat foods can increase weight in general, including one of the factors causing large calves. Fat not only accumulates under the skin but also in the muscles.
When you gain weight, the thighs and calves can be the first places where fat accumulates, but tend to be the last areas to lose fat as you lose weight.
4. Health problems
An enlarged calf size can also indicate a health problem that needs to be watched out for. Here are some conditions that can make your calves look big.
- Excess salt intake
Foods high in sodium are one of the foods that make calves big. Excess salt can draw fluid from the arteries, veins, and capillaries, then send it to various body tissues, including the calf area.
This condition can cause the calves to appear enlarged. You may also notice swelling in other parts of your body, such as your fingers, face, or stomach.
- Less active
A sedentary lifestyle or infrequent movement can also trigger a buildup of fluid in the foot area, causing large calves.
- Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is a more serious cause of large calves. This condition indicates a blockage of the venous blood vessels so that there is a risk of blocking blood flow to the lungs which can endanger the sufferer.
One of the characteristics of deep vein thrombosis is swelling that occurs in one leg.
- Heart problems
When the pumping mechanism of the heart is disturbed, this condition makes the blood vessels inelastic so that blood is pumped to the heart more slowly and causes fluid to accumulate in the legs. Ultimately, this condition can be the cause of large calves.
How to shrink calves you can do
Basically, how to shrink the calf depends on the cause. If you suspect the cause of large calves is a serious health problem, you should immediately contact your doctor to get proper treatment.
Meanwhile, for common causes, there are several ways to reduce the calf that you can do.
- Eat healthy foods that are low in salt. You can cook yourself to reduce your daily salt intake.
- If you sit for too long, it's a good idea to stretch, lift your legs, or walk for a while after 1-2 hours to increase blood flow in your legs and prevent fluid buildup in your feet.
- The use of compression stockings can also help improve blood flow back from the legs to the heart.
- If you're on an airplane, make an occasional walk through the cabin to help prevent fluid buildup in your feet.
- Doing low-resistance sports, such as long-distance jogging, brisk walking on flat surfaces, and swimming can be a way to reduce large calves.
- Walk with your heels first.
- Leg stretching, yoga, or pilates, also include ways to shrink the calf muscles that you can do.
- Medical procedures in the form of partial removal (partial resection) of the calf muscle can make the calf appear smaller and longer. This procedure may be recommended if other attempts have failed or the cause of the large calf is genetic.
If large calves are caused by weight gain or obesity, then diet and cardio exercise can be considered as a way to shrink the calves. Liposuction is not recommended for calf reduction unless the fat thickness in the calf reaches 2 cm.