Surgical

Gastrocnemius Recession

For chronic foot pain driven by an isolated tight gastrocnemius (equinus contracture), recession lengthens the muscle just enough to relieve the underlying mechanical overload.

Why It Helps

A tight gastrocnemius muscle is a frequently underrecognized driver of plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, midfoot pain, and forefoot overload. When focused stretching has not normalized dorsiflexion, recession (Strayer or Baumann technique) at the medial gastroc-soleus interval provides reliable, durable lengthening.

What to Expect

A small incision on the medial calf. Walking boot for 2–3 weeks. Calf strength returns over 3–6 months. The vast majority of patients have improvement of the foot pain that drove them to the procedure.

Get back on your feet!

Schedule a consultation with Dr. O'Carroll at our Pismo Beach or Santa Maria office. Dr. O'Carroll's schedule fills quickly - we recommend requesting an appointment as early as you can to get on the list.