Soleus

Looks like

A broad flat muscle lying under the gastrocnemius, from the upper shin to the Achilles tendon.

What it does

Keeps the body from falling forward when standing, and pumps blood out of the leg veins.

Keeping it well

Its pump fails with long stillness, so blood pools: move the ankles on long flights. Calf swelling with pain needs checking for a clot.

Related conditions

• Achilles tendon rupture
• Botulism
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Compartment syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Growing pains
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Lymphangitis
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Restless legs syndrome
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
• Superficial thrombophlebitis
• Tetanus
• Varicose veins
• Venomous snakebite