What is a calf ultrasound?
A calf ultrasound is a scan of the muscles at the back of your lower leg, the tendons that join them to the Achilles, and, where swelling raises the question, the deep veins. It shows tears, bleeding, swelling and lumps, uses no radiation, and gives an answer the same day.
What does a calf ultrasound show?
A calf ultrasound examines the lower leg systematically:
- The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles: tears, strains and bleeding
- The muscle-tendon junction and Achilles
- Fluid collections and haematomas
- Baker’s cysts behind the knee, including ruptured ones
- The deep veins, where a clot needs to be excluded
Calf tear or DVT: how do I know?
Often you cannot tell from symptoms alone. Both can cause one-sided calf pain and swelling, and the difference matters because their treatments are opposite. A tear usually starts suddenly during activity, sometimes with a pop. A DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is more likely after long travel, surgery, pregnancy or immobility. If there is any doubt, the scan checks both.
When is calf pain an emergency?
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if calf pain or swelling comes with chest pain, breathlessness, coughing blood or feeling faint. These can be signs that a clot has travelled to the lungs.
A swollen, warm, red and painful calf without those symptoms needs a same-day assessment for DVT: call us or your GP the same day.
Can an ultrasound show a calf strain or tear?
Yes. Ultrasound shows exactly where the muscle is torn, how much of it is involved and whether there is bleeding into the muscle. That grade is what determines how long recovery will take and how rehabilitation should be paced.
How long does a torn calf take to heal?
It depends on the grade: a minor strain usually settles in two to three weeks, while a significant tear can take six to twelve weeks or longer. The scan takes the guesswork out by showing the actual size of the tear, so you can return to running or sport at the right time and avoid re-injury.
Will a torn calf muscle heal on its own, and should I walk on it?
Most calf tears heal without surgery, with a period of relative rest followed by graded rehabilitation. Gentle walking is usually encouraged once it is comfortable, but pushing through sharp pain risks making the tear bigger. Surgery is rarely needed, and is mostly reserved for complete ruptures of the tendon. The scan tells you which you have.
What causes calf pain when walking?
Calf pain that comes on with walking can be a muscle or tendon problem, but pain that reliably appears after a certain distance and eases within minutes of resting can be a sign of narrowed arteries (peripheral arterial disease), particularly in smokers, people with diabetes or over fifty. That needs a GP assessment and circulation tests rather than a muscle scan.
What is tennis leg?
Tennis leg is a sudden tear of the inner part of the calf muscle (the medial gastrocnemius), often in middle-aged people during a quick push-off, such as in tennis, squash or running for a bus. It feels like being kicked or shot in the calf. Ultrasound confirms it, measures the tear and checks for a blood collection.
Can a ruptured Baker’s cyst cause calf pain?
Yes. A Baker’s cyst is a fluid-filled swelling behind the knee. If it ruptures, fluid tracks down into the calf, causing sudden pain and swelling that can look very like a DVT. Ultrasound shows the cyst and the fluid, and can exclude a clot at the same time.
Should I see a physiotherapist or get a scan first?
For a mild strain, physiotherapy alone is often enough. A scan is worth it when the injury was sudden and severe, you cannot walk normally, it is not improving after two weeks, it keeps recurring, or a blood clot needs to be excluded. A scan report also helps your physiotherapist pace your rehabilitation.
Does a calf ultrasound hurt?
No. The probe rests gently on the skin with a little warm gel. If the muscle is tender, the specialist presses carefully, and any movement is only as far as is comfortable. There are no needles and no radiation.
How long does a calf ultrasound take?
Around twenty minutes, or a little longer if the veins are checked as well. That includes a short chat about the injury and time for the specialist to explain the findings on screen.
Do I need to prepare for a calf ultrasound?
No preparation is needed: eat, drink and take your medication as normal. Wear shorts or trousers that roll up above the knee, and bring any previous scan or physiotherapy reports.
Can a calf ultrasound find a lump in my calf?
Yes. Lumps in the calf are most often benign, such as a lipoma, a cyst or an old area of bleeding, and ultrasound can usually tell which. If a lump needs further characterising, your specialist will explain why and arrange an MRI or biopsy.
How much does a calf ultrasound cost?
At Harley Street Ultrasound a private calf ultrasound costs £280, all fees inclusive: the examination, the specialist’s time, your written report and images. Same-day or next-day appointments are usually available.
What if you find something?
Your specialist tells you in the room, in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You will never be sent home to wait for a letter. Most findings are benign and need nothing more than a sensible review date.
Anything that does need attention gets a clear, objective recommendation in your report: monitor, test further, or refer. Follow-up tests can usually be arranged at 99 Harley Street, often the same week, and those results are also explained to you personally.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book a calf ultrasound in London directly online or by phone. No GP letter, no waiting list, and same-day or next-day appointments are usually available. If you are searching for a calf ultrasound near me from anywhere in central London, we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
If you are wondering how much a private calf ultrasound costs, the answer is published before you book: £280, all fees inclusive: the examination, the specialist’s time, your written report and your images. Insured patients should bring a referral or authorisation number if their policy requires one.
How soon will I have the written report?
Usually the same day: a Harley Street calf ultrasound comes with same-day results as standard, and you will already know the findings, because they are explained to you on screen during the appointment.
The written report is prepared by the specialist team and published to your secure patient portal together with your images, with measurements and a clear recommendation, ready to share with your GP or specialist.
What happens after the scan?
Nothing special: there is no aftercare needed. You can eat, drive and go back to work straight away. Diagnostic ultrasound at these intensities has no confirmed adverse effects, which is why it can be repeated safely for monitoring. If your results suggest a next step, your specialist explains it before you leave.
Can I still use the NHS afterwards?
Yes: completely. Coming to us privately never affects your NHS care. Our job is to get you answers quickly; if anything needs urgent attention, your specialist writes to your NHS GP recommending an urgent appointment, so you re-enter the NHS pathway with a diagnosis already in hand rather than joining the queue from the start.
