Prevalence of calf muscle tightness and correlation between warm-up and cool-down with calf muscle tightness in recreational badminton players: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Badminton is a sport that requires quick movements, rapid changes in direction, and forceful lunges, all of which put significant strain on the lower leg muscles, particularly the calf and Achilles tendon. The repetitive mechanical stress that these areas experience during play makes them vulnerable to tightness and damage. Previous research shows that injuries to the lower limbs, specifically muscle strains and tendon tears in the calf-Achilles region, are relatively common among badminton players at different levels.^[1-3]

The prevalence of calf muscle tightness among badminton players is not thoroughly researched.^[4] Tight calf muscles can limit ankle movement, increasing the risk of overuse injuries such as calf strains and Achilles tendinopathy.^[4]

Calf muscle tightness is measured using a variety of clinical tests, each with its own set of strengths. Weight-bearing, functional tests such as the modified weight-bearing lunge test (MWBLT) assess ankle flexibility under situations that closely resemble athletic demands, giving information about how the calf works during real movement.^[5] Reliable and practical diagnostic measures are critical for early detection of calf tightness, which will eventually guide prevention and rehabilitation measures.

Muscle imbalances and structural alterations in the muscles and tendons, including asymmetries at the myotendinous junction of the calf muscles, have been associated with prolonged badminton play.^[6] Similar muscle adaptations, where repetitive actions enhance muscle growth and stiffness, have been noted in various racquet sports.^[7] Although these modifications could increase strength and power, if they are not controlled, they can also decrease flexibility and increase the risk of injury.

It is crucial to understand that calf muscle stiffness is not the only element that contributes to badminton injuries. Individual characteristics, including strength, flexibility, and anatomical variances, interact with extrinsic factors such as training intensity, playing surface, and footwear to increase injury risk.^[1] Because of this, injury prevention should be comprehensive, incorporating flexibility work, neuromuscular warm-up exercises, eccentric strengthening, and proper load control. Recent evaluations emphasize the significance of measuring function and flexibility on a regular basis to identify hazards early and modify injury prevention techniques accordingly.^[8]

A proper warm-up increases muscle temperature and vascular perfusion, resulting in improved muscle compliance and reduced stiffness. Warmed muscles are less prone to acute tightening due to their improved extensibility and enzymatic activity, which supports enhanced force production and reduced injury risk. Insufficient warm-up can leave muscles relatively stiff and at higher risk for strain.^[9,10]

Cool-down periods after activity assist in clearing metabolic by-products and gradually restore muscles to their resting state. Lack of proper cool-down can result in increased residual muscle tightness, especially in muscles subjected to high-intensity or repetitive activity, as seen in sports. Aerobic cool-down reduces post-exercise soreness and helps decrease muscle stiffness by maintaining blood flow for longer and preventing abrupt cessation that can lead to muscular cramping.^[9,10]

Evidence suggests higher BMI is associated with altered muscle architecture, specifically, increased stiffness, greater fibrous content, and reduced muscle quality in the calf and plantar muscles. Obesity or increased body mass index (BMI) leads to adverse changes such as more fibrous tissue relative to muscle mass, higher muscle tension, and compromised performance, all of which can present as increased tightness or reduced flexibility. Therefore, higher BMI is an important variable influencing calf muscle tightness.^[11,12]

Playing experience and training specificity affect muscle adaptiveness and stiffness. While athletes with considerable experience may develop adaptations that either increase or decrease muscle stiffness (depending on sport and training load), overuse or heavy loading can heighten the risk for tightness due to fatigue, repetitive microtrauma, or inadequate recovery periods. Novices may experience more tightness due to a lack of muscle conditioning, whereas seasoned athletes may differ based on training loads and recovery strategies.^[13]

Most of the studies on calf tightness and related injuries have concentrated on professional or sub-elite players, with recreational badminton players receiving less attention, as the recreational badminton players commonly experience injuries, with about 39% reporting recent issues, mostly mild and related to overuse.^[3] For early detection and intervention, straightforward and efficient screening techniques such as the MWBLT, are especially helpful because this group may not have easy access to medical support or injury prevention programs.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of calf muscle tightness and find out the correlation of warm-up, cool-down, BMI, and playing experience with calf muscle tightness among badminton players.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sample size calculation

A total sample size of 158 players was calculated using G*Power analysis software. The final sample size (n = 158) was determined using a compromise power analysis using G* Power analysis software, which was employed to achieve an optimal balance between statistical power and feasible participant recruitment. This approach was adopted due to the limited duration of the data collection period (2 months), during which 158 eligible participants could be included [Figure 1].

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Figure 1:

Strobe flow chart.

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Pre-test instructions for participants (standardized before measurement)

1. Avoid vigorous exercise of lower limbs 24 h before testing (or document if they did)

2. Avoid topical analgesics/heat/ice within 2 h before the test

3. Wear shorts or clothing that allows access to the ankle

4. Bring usual sporting footwear; state whether testing is performed barefoot or shod (recommend barefoot or standardized thin sock to avoid shoe differences).

Outcome measure

1. MWBLT: Measures ankle dorsiflexion ROM with excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC] = 0.98–0.99, Standard Error of Measurement [SEM] = 0.3–0.4 cm).^[4] The MWBLT was employed in this study due to its higher reliability and reduced measurement error in comparison with other available tests for assessing calf muscle tightness. The WBLT is quick, low-cost, and feasible on the sports complex floor without specialized equipment — an important consideration in field studies of athletes.

Testing procedure

A flat, non-slippery surface. Foot markings were placed to standardize foot position. The participant faced a wall with their test foot perpendicular to the wall, and the heel maintained in contact with the floor. The participant lunged forward to touch the wall with their knee without lifting the heel. The maximum comfortable distance was measured between the wall and the knee. Each participant performed 3 trials with 30 s rest between trials; the mean of the 3 trials was used for analysis [Figure 2].

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Figure 2:

The modified weight-bearing lunge test.

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Test administrators and blinding

All measurements were conducted by two trained physiotherapists. During the main data collection, the assessor performing the MWBLT was blinded to participants’ self reported playing history and previous injury answers; to reduce the observer bias. Data entry was performed by the third researcher, who was not involved in measurement.

RESULTS

A total of 158 participants were evaluated for calf muscle tightness using the MWBLT. The frequency and percentage distribution of tightness identified are presented below:

• Sample size: n = 158 for all tests, with no missing data.

• Descriptive statistics [Table 1]:

  • MWBLT showed a mean score of 10.94 (SD = 2.63).

• Prevalence of calf muscle tightness [Table 2]:

  • According to the MWBLT, 26.6% (n = 42) of participants demonstrated calf muscle tightness.

DISCUSSION

This study aimed to understand how common calf muscle tightness is among recreational badminton players and whether factors such as BMI, warm-up and cool-down habits, and playing experience relate to this condition. Badminton involves rapid changes of direction, jumping, and quick movements, all of which put a lot of repeated stress on the lower leg muscles, particularly the calf and Achilles tendon areas.^[14] Previous research has documented injuries in these muscles across various levels of play,^[4,6] but there has been less focus specifically on those who play recreationally rather than professionally or semi-professionally.

To assess calf muscle tightness, the MWBLT was used. This test has been recognized for its high reliability in measuring ankle dorsiflexion in settings that closely resemble sports activity.^[15] Because badminton requires ankle flexibility during dynamic movements, the MWBLT is a practical and functional choice for measuring tightness that could affect performance and injury risk.^[9]

The findings showed that 26.6% of the participants had calf muscle tightness. While this percentage is somewhat lower than what is often seen in elite players, it still represents a significant concern because tight calf muscles can contribute to overuse injuries such as Achilles tendinopathy.^[4,16] When the ankle’s ROM is limited, the way forces are distributed during play can be altered, placing extra strain on the Achilles tendon and increasing the risk of injury.^[17]

A particularly important result was the strong positive correlation between BMI and the MWBLT score (r = 0.817).^[10] This aligns with earlier studies by Bahr and Holme,^[1] which found that individuals with higher body weight tend to experience greater muscular load and are therefore more prone to muscle tightness and injuries. The implication for recreational badminton players is that those who are overweight may be at a higher risk, suggesting that weight management should be considered as part of injury prevention programs.

Conversely, playing experience showed a meaningful inverse correlation with muscle tightness (r = −0.454). In agreement with Villanueva et al.^[6] and Sanchis-Moysi et al.,^[7] this suggests that regular exposure to the sport over time leads to muscular adaptations. These adaptations appear to protect against tightness by improving muscle function and flexibility. It makes sense that players who have been active for longer have better-conditioned muscles and are thus less likely to develop tightness.

Cool-down routines also seemed to play a vital role. Our results demonstrated a strong negative correlation between proper cool-down activities after playing and calf muscle tightness (r = −0.890). This agrees with the recommendations by Stepper et al.^[18] and a recent systematic review,^[8] both of which emphasize the importance of performing post-match stretching and cool down exercises to reduce muscle stiffness. Cool downs facilitate muscle recovery and help maintain flexibility, yet many recreational players tend to neglect this part of their routine. This highlights a critical opportunity for coaches and trainers to encourage and educate players about the benefits of cool-down for injury prevention.

Interestingly, warm-up routines did not show a strong relationship with calf tightness in this study (r = −0.006). While warm-ups are generally important for preparing the body for activity, it appears that the cool down and post-exercise stretching routines may be more essential for preserving muscle flexibility over time.^[8] This may also suggest that many warm-up routines may not include sufficient focus on the calf muscles, which should be a point for further investigation and potential improvement in training protocols.

Similar patterns have been noted in other sports. For instance, Sanchis-Moysi et al.^[7] observed that tennis players tend to develop greater muscle size through training, which sometimes is associated with decreased flexibility unless stretching is incorporated. Similarly, Bahr and Holme^[1] emphasized the link between body weight and injury occurrence. In addition, research in badminton has consistently shown that injury risks increase significantly when players do not engage in appropriate flexibility and conditioning programs.^[2,19]

Although the study brings valuable insights, it has some limitations. Its cross-sectional design means that no cause-and-effect conclusions can be drawn from the results. The participants self-reported their warm-up and cool-down habits, which could introduce inaccuracies. Furthermore, by excluding players who had recent injuries, there is a chance that the full extent of the relationship between calf tightness and injury risk was underestimated.^[20] Finally, since the study focused on healthy players aged 18–30, the findings may not apply to younger or older players or those with previous injuries. Despite these limitations, the findings support what has been suggested by other researchers, including Stepper et al.,^[18] Sharma et al.^[2,19] and Pardiwala et al.^[16] These authors recommend that injury prevention for badminton players should include managing body weight, gradually building playing experience, and making cool-down routines integral to training. Using reliable and simple testing methods like the MWBLT can assist coaches and players in identifying those who might be at risk of tightness-related injuries, making it easier to target preventive measures early.^[15]

Future research should consider longitudinal studies to evaluate how different stretching and conditioning strategies affect calf muscle tightness over time. Expanding the scope of study to include different age groups, competitive levels, and players who have sustained injuries would provide a richer understanding of this issue. It would also be useful to systematically track warm-up and cool-down activities in more detail to better understand their specific impacts.

CONCLUSION

This study concludes that calf muscle tightness is fairly common among recreational badminton players, affecting about one in four participants. It is more likely to occur in players with a higher BMI, while those with more playing experience and consistent cool-down routines were less likely to have tightness. Warm-up activities did not show much effect in this regard. These results suggest that maintaining a healthy weight, regularly doing cool-down exercises, and building experience gradually can help reduce the risk of calf tightness and related injuries. Future research that follows players over time and includes wider age groups and playing levels would help strengthen these findings.