Richard Haynes PTA/CPT - 7/28/2009

Question
I was born with a slight case of cerebral palsy, or something like it.  I am now 30 yrs old.  Anyway at the age of 2 I had my achilles tendon lenghtened.  To my knowledge it was cut in therr places and streched.  Ever since I can remember i will always walk with a limp, and my left calf muscle is noticeably smaller than my right.  Somewhere around 4 to 5 inches.  My question is can i build any kind of muscle on that calf or am I too old for that.  Also it has never affected me in any sport, I can keep up with just about anyone.  I have been weight training on and off since I was 16.  I tried to build my calf with raises but, I can barely do one legged calf raises on my left calf.  any advice on building my calf would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Jared,

Depending on the nerve connections etc... in the calf and how compromised they may be will dictate the the size and strength of the muscle and it capacity to enlarge.

I would try in your case seated calf raises. if you go to a gym you have seen the machine were you sit and work on the calves. It works predominately the soleus, the muscle that underlies the gastroc.
You are never too old to old to build muscle and at 30 bodybuilders build some of thier best muscle at that age since the muscle has matured.

Good Luck
Richard Haynes
Punta Gorda, Florida.
http;//www.richardhaynes.com'
http;//www.rhaynes.blogspot.com