Muscle Strain

Muscle Strain

John Miller Physiotherapist

Article by John Miller

Muscle Strain

Muscle Tear – Pulled Muscle

What is Muscle Strain?

Your muscle strain commonly occurs at high speed when your muscles are overloaded. The most common high-speed muscle injuries occur in your hamstrings (hamstring strain), quadriceps (thigh strain), calf (calf muscle tear), back (back muscle pain), and groin strain. But any muscle in your body is susceptible to a muscle strain or tear.

Fatigue Strains

You can also suffer fatigue-related muscle strain from sustained postures. Back muscle strain and shoulder and neck muscle strains are often postural fatigue-related. Text neck has become standard due to postural fatigue while overusing your phone.

Overuse Injuries

Another common source of muscle pain can be related to excessive muscle microtrauma from an overdose of exercise. This condition is known as DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness. Other overuse injuries, such as RSI (repetitive strain injury), result from a combination of postural fatigue and overuse of the smaller upper limb muscles. Early assessment and prevention strategies have virtually eliminated RSI from offices worldwide.

muscle strain
Muscle Strain Treatment

What Does A Muscle Strain Feel Like?

Muscle strains have the following symptoms:

  • Muscle tightness
  • Bruising
  • Weakness
  • Inability to fully stretch your injured muscle

Muscle Strain Grades

The most severe muscle strain has more significant symptoms.

Muscle strains range from mild muscle strain (grade one) and moderate muscle strain (grade two) to severe muscle strain or complete muscle rupture (grade three).

For specific advice on the severity of your muscle strain, please seek professional assessment and advice from a health professional with a particular interest in muscle injuries, such as your physiotherapist or doctor.

How Do You Treat A Muscle Strain?

Muscle strain treatment will vary depending on your health professional’s accurate diagnosis. The severity of your muscle strain and what function or loads your injured muscle will need to cope with will impact the length of your healing and rehabilitation process.

Until your professional assessment, use the following guidelines:

  • Apply ice and a compression bandage.
  • Elevate the injured region if swollen.
  • If it’s painful to walk, you should be using crutches.
  • Cease or reduce your exercise or activity level to where you feel no pain.

Muscle strain can take a few days to several weeks to rehabilitate successfully. Please seek the advice of your physiotherapist, doctor or your health care practitioner who specialises in muscle injuries, e.g. massage therapist, to guide your treatment.

How to Return to Sport/Work after a Muscle Strain

Returning to a sport or work can be easy or complicated depending on the muscle affected and your sport or work demands. Muscle tears such as hamstring, thigh, groin and calf are notorious for re-tearing once you resume competition. Please seek the professional advice of your sports physiotherapist.

If your work involves lifting or fatigue postures, your healthcare professional will be able to assess you. Then, they will advise you when you are at a lower risk of returning to work or provide you with the appropriate exercise program to build your strength and ability to cope with your work duties.

Optimal Muscle Strain Treatment

Ideally, it would be best if you undertook the following:

  • Physiotherapy assessment of your muscle injury to minimise your injury recurrence risk.
  • A remedial massage or sports-style massage to mould your scar tissue formation.
  • A muscle rehabilitation program incorporates strength, endurance, flexibility, and speed specific to your chosen sport.
  • A neural tissue dynamics assessment ensures no nerve tissue has become entrapped in the scar tissue.
  • Application of a heat retainer to the area when you return to sport.
  • Application of ice therapy after any training sessions.

If you suffer a muscle strain that fails to respond after a few days or continues to niggle, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your physiotherapist.

Related Articles

  1. Muscle Pain – Offers detailed insights into causes, symptoms, and treatment options for muscle pain​​.
  2. DOMS – Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness – Explains the condition known as DOMS, its symptoms, and how to manage it​​.
  3. Hamstring Injuries – Discusses causes, prevention, and treatment options for hamstring injuries.
  4. Calf Muscle Tears – Provides information on how calf muscle tears occur, symptoms to watch for, and treatment strategies​​.
  5. Groin Strain – Offers insights into the causes, symptoms, and treatment methods for groin strains​​.
  6. RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) – Details on how RSI occurs, prevention tips, and treatment options, relevant to overuse injuries mentioned in the article​​.
  7. Acute Soft Tissue Injury – Covers general information on managing acute soft tissue injuries, relevant to muscle strains and tears​​.

Common Muscle Injuries

A Physiotherapist's Guide

Introduction

Muscle injuries, presenting as muscle strain, pain or myalgia, are prevalent health issues affecting a wide range of individuals. This detailed guide, from a physiotherapist's perspective, delves into various muscle injuries, elaborating on their management, prevention, and the importance of professional advice. Explore the linked articles for an in-depth understanding of muscle injuries and their effective treatment.

Common Muscle Injuries

Neck & Back Muscle Injuries: Causes and Solutions

  1. Back Muscle Pain: This pain often results from prolonged poor posture or physical overuse. Key to relief is engaging in exercises that strengthen the core muscles and improve posture, thereby alleviating the strain on the back.
  2. Neck Sprain: Caused by sudden, awkward movements, a neck sprain can benefit from a combination of gentle stretches and targeted strengthening exercises to restore flexibility and strength.
  3. Text Neck: A modern ailment resulting from extended mobile device use, text neck can lead to chronic pain. Regular breaks, posture-awareness, and neck-strengthening exercises are essential for prevention.
  4. Whiplash: Commonly occurring in car accidents, whiplash requires a careful approach including neck stabilisation exercises and controlled movement to encourage healing and prevent further injury.

Lower Limb Muscle Injuries: Understanding and Treating

  1. Hamstring Strain: Particularly common among athletes, particularly runners, this strain demands rest initially, followed by a carefully structured rehabilitation program focusing on gradual strength building and flexibility.
  2. Thigh Strain: Often seen in sports involving sprinting and jumping, thigh strains need a combination of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) in the initial stages, followed by carefully planned strengthening exercises.
  3. Groin Strain: This injury requires a nuanced approach, including sufficient rest and targeted exercises, to ensure a safe and effective recovery.
  4. Calf Muscle Tear: Key to recovery is a balance of rest, gentle stretching exercises, and a gradual return to full activity, ensuring the muscle heals correctly and strength is regained.

Upper Limb Muscle Injuries: Prevention and Care

  1. Golfer's Elbow and Tennis Elbow: Both these conditions involve inflammation of the tendons and require a rest period, followed by ice therapy and specific exercises tailored to strengthen the affected muscles.
  2. Corked Thigh: Resulting from direct impacts, these injuries demand immediate application of ice and a controlled, gradual exercise regime for recovery.
  3. DOMS, Fatigue-Related Cramps & Myalgia: Adequate rest, good hydration, and gentle stretching are crucial in alleviating these conditions.
  4. RSI: Regular stretching, ergonomic workplace adjustments, and taking breaks are key preventive measures for repetitive strain injury.

Systemic Causes of Muscle Pain: A Holistic View

  1. Fibromyalgia: This complex condition demands a holistic treatment approach, including exercise routines, stress management techniques, and sometimes medication.
  2. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effective management combines medication, gentle exercise, and regular physiotherapy sessions.

Prevention and Management Strategies

  • Regular Exercise: Regular physical activity helps maintain muscle strength and flexibility, reducing the risk of muscle injuries.
  • Posture Improvement: Good posture, both in motion and at rest, is crucial for preventing muscle strain.
  • Proper Warm-up and Cool-down: Adequate warm-up before and cool-down after physical activity is vital in preventing muscle strains and injuries.
  • Ergonomic Adjustments: Making ergonomic adjustments at work and during daily activities can significantly reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries and other muscle-related issues.
  • Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Keeping a healthy weight reduces the strain on muscles, particularly in weight-bearing joints.

What to Do? Seeking Professional Advice

Consult a physiotherapist or doctor for personalised advice and treatment plans. Remember, early intervention can significantly improve recovery outcomes and prevent chronic problems.

Conclusion

While muscle injuries are common, effective management and prevention are achievable with the right approach and knowledge. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and various treatments available empowers individuals to take proactive steps in their recovery and prevention. For the most tailored and effective treatment, always seek the guidance of a professional physiotherapist.

Common Muscle Injury FAQs

Managing and Recovering from Muscle Injuries

Welcome to our Muscle Injury FAQs. It's your comprehensive guide for understanding, treating, and bouncing back from muscle injuries.

We'll discuss the different muscle injury types, grasp the concept of muscle trigger points, and discover the reasons behind muscular pain post-exercise. Learn about effective treatments to speed up recovery, and explore the benefits of stretching exercises and foam rollers. Embrace the therapeutic effects of various massage therapies including remedial, relaxation, trigger point, acupressure, and sports massages. Gear up to play an active part in your journey towards recovery from muscle injuries.

For more detailed information simple the question hyperlinks below.

common muscle injuries
Muscle Injury Faqs

Diagnosing Muscle Injuries

  1. How Do You Know If It’s A Muscle Injury? - Understand how to identify a muscle injury, distinguishing it from other types of pain.
  2. What are the 4 Types of Muscle Injuries? - Explore the four main categories of muscle injuries, including strains and tears.
  3. What are the Most Common Muscle Injuries? - Learn about the most frequently occurring muscle injuries and how they affect your body.
  4. What is a Trigger Point in a Muscle? - Discover what trigger points are and their role in muscle pain.
  5. What Causes Post-Exercise Muscular Pain? - Uncover the reasons behind the muscular discomfort you feel after exercising.
  6. How Do You Know If Your Back Pain Is Muscular? - Find out how to determine if your back pain is due to a muscle injury.
  7. Tendinopathy vs Muscle Tear: What's the Difference? - Understand the differences between tendinopathy and muscle tears.
  8. Muscle vs Ligament Injury? - Learn the distinctions between injuries to muscles and ligaments.

early muscle injury treatment

Early Muscle Injury Treatment

Muscle Treatment & Recovery

  1. What is the Best Early Muscle Injury Treatment? - Discover the most effective initial treatments for muscle injuries.
  2. How Long Does it Take for a Muscle Injury to Heal? - Find out the typical healing times for various muscle injuries.
  3. How Does Dry Needling Help Muscle Injury? - Explore the benefits and process of dry needling in muscle injury recovery.
  4. How Can You Speed Up Muscle Recovery? - Learn strategies to accelerate the healing process of muscle injuries.
  5. What’s the Benefit of Stretching Exercises? - Understand the importance of stretching exercises in muscle recovery.
  6. How Do Foam Rollers Help Muscle Recovery? - Discover how foam rollers aid in the recovery of muscle injuries.
muscle injury treatment
Foam Rollers Are Excellent For Injury Prevention And Performance Improvement

Massage & Muscle Injuries

  1. Muscle Injury? What are the Benefits of Getting a Massage? - Explore the therapeutic advantages of massage for muscle injuries.
  2. What Is The Difference Between Remedial & Relaxation Massage? - Learn the distinctions between remedial and relaxation massage techniques.
  3. How Does Trigger Point Therapy Help? - Understand the role of trigger point therapy in treating muscle injuries.
  4. How Does Acupressure Help Muscle Injury? - Discover how acupressure can aid in the recovery of muscle injuries.
  5. What is Sports Massage? - Explore the specifics and benefits of sports massage for athletes and active individuals.
  6. When is the Best Time to Get a Pre-Event Massage? - Learn the optimal timing for a pre-event massage to enhance performance.
  7. When is the Best Time for Your Post-Event Massage? - Find out the ideal time to receive a post-event massage for effective recovery.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this FAQ article on managing and recovering from muscle injuries offers a wealth of information, from understanding different types of injuries like muscle strains and tears, to exploring various treatment and recovery options. Whether you're dealing with a recent injury, seeking preventive advice, or exploring therapeutic methods like massage and acupressure, this guide serves as a valuable resource.

Remember, the journey to recovery is unique for each individual, and this guide aims to empower you with knowledge and tools to aid in your healing process. Stay informed, listen to your body, and seek professional advice when needed, as you navigate the path to recovery and optimal muscle health.

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