Muscle Strain

A Muscle Strain is an injury that damages the internal structure of the muscle. It is a partial tear of some of the small fibers that make up the muscle. The tearing may be so small that one could only see it with a microscope. Or, there may be enough tearing of fibers to cause internal bleeding and cause some fibers to elongate. If the damaged parts of the muscle actually pull away from each other, it is called a muscle rupture.

A Muscle Strain is caused by tension or stress applied to the muscle that it cannot withstand. There are several ways that this can happen.

• The muscle may not be ready for a sudden stress.
• The tension applied may be too much for the muscle to bear (i.e., lifting a weight that is too heavy for you).
• A muscle is used too much on a certain day.

Certain muscles are more likely to be strained than others including:

• Hamstrings
• Groin
• Back
• Calf

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

• Athletic activities, especially those with running and jumping
• Tight muscles
• Fatigue
• Overexertion
• Cold weather

Symptoms depend on how you strained the muscle.
Strain while performing an athletic or physical activity
You immediately feel soreness or pain in the affected muscle. If you try to use that muscle it hurts even more. The area becomes tender, and often has local swelling. In the most severe cases, there may be a bruise. Moving the nearby joints causes pain. Running and lifting are common examples of this type of Muscle Strain.
Strain from an accumulation of stress
When you do an activity that your body is not used to doing, the muscles are not in shape for that activity. There may not be one specific incident during the activity where you feel pain, but the next day a muscle or set of muscles may be very sore. The muscle will be tender and using it causes pain or discomfort.

The doctor will ask about your symptoms, your recent physical activity and how the injury occurred. The doctor will also examine the injured area for:

• Tenderness directly over the muscle
• Pain when contracting the muscle particularly against resistance

Tests may include: MRI scan – to see how severe the damage is (Uncommon for most people. Usually only for professional athletes to help determine when they will return to their sport.)

Treatment depends on the severity of the strain and the muscle involved.
Treatment usually includes:
Rest - Do not do activities that cause pain. If normal walking hurts, shorten your stride. Do not play sports until the pain is gone.
Cold – Apply cold to the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes, 4 times a day for several days after the injury.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications – These are often helpful in relieving pain. They can also mask symptoms. If you still have muscle tenderness while taking these drugs, do not return to physical activity. Check with your doctor.
Heat – Use heat only when you are returning to activity. Then use it before stretching or getting ready to play.
Stretching – When the acute pain is gone, start gentle stretching. Stay within pain limits. Hold each stretch about 10 seconds and repeat 6 times.
Strengthening – When a muscle is injured, it becomes weaker because it is not used. You must gradually restrengthen it. It is best to do this under the supervision of health care professional.

To reduce your chance of straining a muscle:

• Keep your muscles strong so they can absorb the energy of sudden stressful activities.
• After a short warm up period, stretch out tight muscles, especially previously injured ones.
• Learn the proper technique for athletic activities. This will decrease muscle stress.
• Quit when you are tired. Fatigued muscles do not function well. They do not react properly to sudden stress.