An overview of Strain
What is Strains?
A strain is when a muscle is stretched too much and tears. It is also called a pulled muscle. A strain is a painful injury. It can be caused by an accident, overusing a muscle, or using a muscle in the wrong way.
A muscle strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon — the fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bones. Minor injuries may only overstretch a muscle or tendon, while more severe injuries may involve partial or complete tears in these tissues.
The difference between a strain and a sprain is that a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone, while a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together.
Causes of Strain
Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Chronic muscle strains can result from repetitive injuries when you stress a muscle by doing the same motion over and over.
Signs and symptoms of Strain
Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include:
1.Pain or tenderness.
2. Redness or bruising.
3. Limited motion.
4. Swelling.
5. Muscle spasms.
6. Muscle weakness
Prevention
Regular stretching and strengthening exercises for your sport, fitness or work activity, as part of an overall physical conditioning program, can help to minimize your risk of muscle strains. Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape. If you have a physically demanding occupation, regular conditioning can help prevent injuries
Risk factors
Participating in contact sports — such as soccer, football, hockey, boxing and wrestling — can increase your risk of muscle strains.
Certain parts of the body are more susceptible to strains during participation in certain sports. Examples include:
1. Legs and ankles. Sports that feature quick starts and jumping, such as hurdling and basketball, can be particularly tough on the Achilles tendon in your ankle.
2. Hands. Gripping sports, such as gymnastics or golf, can increase your risk of muscle strains in your hands.
3. Elbows. Elbow strains are often caused by throwing sports and racquet sports.
Frequently Asked Questions About Strains
How long your strain lasts depends on which muscle you injured and how badly it was strained. Most muscle strains heal in a few weeks with at-home treatments.
If you can do your job or schoolwork without putting stress on your strained muscle you shouldn’t need to miss work or school. Talk to your provider about which activities you should avoid while you’re recovering. Check with your provider before resuming any intense activity.
Depending on how severe your original muscle strain is, you should feel better in a few weeks. Talk to your healthcare provider before resuming any intense physical activities.If you start working out or playing sports again before your muscle is healed, you’re at an increased risk of re-injuring it and hurting your muscle worse than the original strain.