A strain (also known colloquially as a pulled muscle or torn muscle) is an acute or chronic soft tissue injury that occurs to a muscle, tendon, or both (contractile components). The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain.
Signs and symptoms
How to fix a pulled muscle | How to treat a muscle strain or tear | How to heal an injury fast - How to fix a pulled muscle | How to treat a muscle strain or tear | How to heal an injury fast | How to heal a muscle tear | If you've ever wondered how to treat a pulled muscle or how to fix...
Typical signs and symptoms of a strain include pain, functional loss of the involved structure, muscle weakness, contusion, and localized inflammation. A strain can range from mild annoyance to very painful, depending on the extent of injury.
Etiology
A strain can occur as a result of improper body mechanics with any activity (e.g., contact sports, lifting heavy objects, overstretching) that can induce mechanical trauma or injury. Generally, the muscle or tendon overstretches and is placed under more physical stress than it can exert. Strains commonly result in a partial or complete tear of a tendon or muscle, or they can be severe in the form of a complete tendon rupture. The most common body location for strains to occur is in the foot, leg, or back.
- Acute strains are more closely associated with recent mechanical trauma or injury.
- Chronic strains typically result from repetitive movement of the muscles and tendons over a long period of time.
Degrees of Injury (as classified by the American College of Sports Medicine)
• First degree (mildest) â€" little tissue tearing; mild tenderness; pain with full range of motion.
• Second degree â€" torn muscle or tendon tissues; painful, limited motion; possibly some swelling or depression at the spot of the injury.
• Third degree (most severe) â€" limited or no movement; pain will be severe at first, but may be painless after the initial injury
Risk factors
Although strains are not restricted to athletes and can happen while doing everyday tasks, however, people who play sports are more at risk for developing a strain. It should also be noted that it is common for an injury to develop when there is a sudden increase in duration, intensity, or frequency of an activity.
Diagnosis
Treatment
The first-line treatment for a muscular strain in the acute phase include five steps commonly known as P.R.I.C.E.
- Protection: Apply soft padding to minimize impact with objects.
- Rest: Rest is necessary to accelerate healing and reduce the potential for re-injury.
- Ice: Apply ice to induce vasoconstriction, which will reduce blood flow to the site of injury. Never ice for more than 20 minutes at a time.
- Compression: Wrap the strained area with a soft-wrapped bandage to reduce further diapedesis and promote lymphatic drainage.
- Elevation: Keep the strained area as close to the level of the heart as is possible in order to promote venous blood return to the systemic circulation.
Immediate treatment is usually an adjunctive therapy of NSAID's and Cold compression therapy. Controlling the inflammation is critical to the healing process. Cold compression therapy acts to reduce swelling and pain by reducing leukocyte extravasation into the injured area. NSAID's such as Ibuprofen/paracetamol work to reduce the immediate inflammation by inhibiting Cox-1 & Cox-2 enzymes, which are the enzymes responsible for converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandin. However, NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen, affect platelet function (this is why they are known as "blood thinners") and should not be taken during the period when tissue is bleeding because they will tend to increase blood flow, inhibit clotting, and thereby increase bleeding and swelling. After the bleeding has stopped, NSAIDs can be used with some effectiveness to reduce inflammation and pain.
A new treatment for acute strains is the use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections which have been shown to accelerate recovery from non surgical muscular injuries.
It is recommended that the person injured should consult a medical provider if the injury is accompanied by severe pain, if the limb cannot be used, or if there is noticeable tenderness over an isolated spot. These can be signs of a broken or fractured bone, a sprain, or a complete muscle tear.
See also
- Repetitive strain injury
- Pulled hamstring
- Sprain
- Achilles tendon rupture
References
External links
- Questions and Answers about Sprains and Strains - US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases