What is the best way to treat a strained calf muscle?

Rest, ice, compress: Calf swelling and pain can often be due to local trauma- either a significant strain or actual partial muscle tear. This allows for local bleeding or hematoma formation within the injured muscle. Partial tears of the gastrocnemius (medial/inside head) are common injuries that may take weeks (2-3) to resolve with rest, ice, elevation and ace wrap compression as the standard treatment.