Muscle Pain & Injury
Article by John Miller

Muscle Pain
Muscle Pain: How to Differentiate it from an Injury
Various causes can induce muscle pain. The important thing is to identify when muscle pain is self-managed and when to seek professional guidance.
Muscle Tears
Whether referred to as a “pulled muscle,” “muscle strain,” “muscle injury,” or “muscle tear,” these descriptions all indicate a muscle injury resulting in pain, weakness, and reduced performance. More info: Muscle Strain
Muscle Haematoma, DOMS & Cramps
Common sports-related causes of muscle pain include muscle contusions like a corked thigh, overtraining conditions like delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), or muscle cramps.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is a severe condition where muscle fibres die, releasing their contents into the bloodstream. This serious condition can lead to kidney failure, requiring urgent medical attention.
Systemic Conditions
Not all muscle pain is injury-related; systemic conditions like fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis can also cause it.
For a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of your muscle pain, consult your trusted healthcare practitioner, given the various potential muscle injuries.
What Does a Muscle Injury Feel Like?
Symptoms of a muscle strain include sudden pain that worsens during muscle contraction, swelling and bruising, muscle weakness, and reduced range of motion.
- Muscle tightness
- Bruising
- Muscle weakness
- Inability to stretch your injured muscle
- Loss of function
- Muscle pain
How Do You Treat A Muscle Injury?
Muscle pain can result from any strain, injury, or tear, commonly affecting high-speed and load muscles like hamstrings, quadriceps, calf, back, and biceps.
More info:
How are Muscle Injuries Graded?
Muscle tears are graded from mild strain (Grade 1) to moderate strain (Grade 2) and complete rupture (Grade 3). Treatment options depend on the severity of the strain, tear, or rupture.
Grade I
Grade I muscle strains respond well to conservative treatment, including protection and active rest, with a gradual introduction to flexibility, strength, and power exercises based on the muscle’s functional needs. Massage therapy and dry needling are other available treatment options.
Grade II
Grade II muscle tears may require assistance from a sports physiotherapist or other healthcare practitioner specialising in muscle injuries. We recommend professionally guided rehabilitation to address scarring, inflexibility, reduced strength and performance, reducing re-injury risk.
Grade III
Grade III muscle rupture often necessitates surgery, followed by a gradual and progressive rehabilitation program under the guidance of the surgeon and physiotherapist. Seeking a professional assessment is crucial to determine the appropriate treatment.
What Helps Heal Muscle Injuries Faster After Injury?
Until receiving an accurate diagnosis, follow these guidelines:
- Seek advice from your physiotherapist, massage therapist, or trusted healthcare practitioner.
- Use ice and a compression bandage.
- Elevate the region if swollen.
- If walking is painful, use crutches.
- Reduce training until pain-free, which may include stopping all exercise.
When Can You Start Training again after a Muscle Strain Injury?
Returning to sports can be straightforward or complicated, depending on the affected muscle. Some muscle tears, such as hamstrings, can be challenging to manage. Ideally, follow these steps:
- Assess your muscle function, core stability, and biomechanics to prevent injury recurrence.
- Undergo remedial or sports-style massage to avoid the clumping of scar tissue.
- Follow a muscle rehabilitation program tailored to your chosen sport, including strength, endurance, flexibility, and speed training.
- Conduct a neural tissue dynamics assessment to ensure no nerve tissue entrapment in the scar tissue.
- Apply a heat retainer to the area upon returning to sport.
- Use ice therapy after training sessions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, recognising and understanding the difference between muscle pain and injury is essential for proper care and recovery. From muscle tears to systemic conditions, the causes of muscle pain can vary widely, and self-diagnosis may not always be accurate. Therefore, if you are experiencing persistent or severe muscle pain, seeking professional assessment and guidance from a physiotherapist or other qualified healthcare practitioner is crucial.
Your physiotherapist can thoroughly evaluate your condition, identify the specific muscle injury, and create a personalised treatment plan to facilitate a faster and safer recovery. They will guide you through appropriate exercises, rehabilitation programs, and preventive measures tailored to your needs and goals. Remember, early intervention and proper care can significantly affect your healing process and overall well-being.
So, don’t hesitate to take the first step towards recovery. Contact a trusted physiotherapist to address your muscle pain or injury effectively. Your active participation in seeking professional assessment will play a vital role in regaining strength, mobility and achieving a healthy, pain-free life. Take action today for a healthier tomorrow!
More Information
Understanding Common Muscle Injuries: A Comprehensive Guide
Muscle pain, also known as myalgia, can result from various causes and can affect different areas of the body. Managing and preventing discomfort requires a clear understanding of these common muscle injuries. This comprehensive guide aims to explore several sources of muscle pain, including injuries in the neck and back, strains in the lower limbs, conditions in the upper limbs, systemic causes, and more.
To provide valuable insights into the management of common muscle injuries, this guide offers answers to frequently asked questions and suggests products that can aid in your recovery. Access additional information about each specific injury by clicking the provided links.
Neck & Back Muscle Injuries
Lower Limb Muscle Injuries
Upper Limb Muscle Injuries
Haematoma-Related Myalgia
Fatigue-Related Myalgia
Systemic Causes of Myalgia
More Information: Myalgia
FAQs & Products
Common Muscle Injury FAQs
Welcome to "Managing and Recovering from Muscle Injuries: FAQs," your ultimate guide to diagnosing, treating, and recovering from muscle injuries. Explore various types of muscle injuries, learn about trigger points, and gain an understanding of post-exercise muscular pain. Discover effective treatments to expedite recovery, and benefit from stretching exercises and foam rollers. Unlock the healing power of massage therapies, including remedial, relaxation, trigger point, acupressure, and sports massages. Get ready to take an active role in successfully managing and recovering from muscle injuries.
Diagnostic
- How Do You Know If It's A Muscle Injury?
- What are the 4 Types of Muscle Injuries?
- What are the Most Common Muscle Injuries?
- What is a Trigger Point in a Muscle?
- What Causes Post-Exercise Muscular Pain?
- How Do You Know If Your Back Pain Is Muscular?
- Tendinopathy vs Muscle Tear?
- Muscle vs Ligament Injury?
Treatment & Recovery
- What is the Best Early Muscle Injury Treatment?
- How Long Does it Take for a Muscle Injury to Heal?
- How Does Dry Needling Help Muscle Injury?
- How Can You Speed Up Muscle Recovery?
- What's the Benefit of Stretching Exercises?
- How Do Foam Rollers Help Muscle Recovery?
Massage & Muscle Injuries
- Muscle Injury? What are the Benefits of Getting a Massage?
- What Is The Difference Between Remedial & Relaxation Massage?
- How Does Trigger Point Therapy Help?
- How Does Acupressure Help Muscle Injury?
- What is Sports Massage?
- When is the Best Time to Get a Pre-Event Massage?
- When is the Best Time for Your Post-Event Massage?