The length of time it takes for a calf muscle tear to heal on its own generally depends on the severity of the tear, e.g., a grade 1 strain takes only a few days. Severe tears should be treated regularly as prescribed by your doctor.
Calf muscle tears are generally categorized into three grades:
First-degree tear: the degree of tear <1/3 of the entire muscle cross-section, usually need a few days to ten days can be relieved by self-healing.
Grade II tear: the extent of the tear is 1/3 to 2/3 of the entire muscle cross-section, usually takes 3 to 6 weeks.
Grade III tears: the extent of the tear is >2/3 of the muscle cross-section, and usually takes 2 to 3 months to heal.
If the muscle is completely torn from the tendon (type IV lesion), the recovery time will be longer.
Note: For severe calf muscle tears (e.g., grade III tears, type IV lesions), surgical closure is feasible if necessary.
If the above symptoms are severe, or if they persist and do not improve, the patient should seek medical attention.