A muscle strain is an overstretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon. It is usually caused when a muscle is stretched beyond its capacity or challenged with a sudden load. This may often be described as a “pull” or “tweak” of the muscle. A muscle strain can be mild, moderate, or severe and most often occur where the muscle meets the tendon at the musculotendinous junction.
Symptoms
- Noticeable loss of muscle strength surrounding the joint
- Loss of range of motion of the joint
- Pain and stiffness in joint
- Possible swelling
- Possible bruising
Risk Factors
- Muscle tightness surrounding the joint
- Muscle imbalances in strength surrounding the joint
- Poor conditioning
- Muscle fatigue surrounding the joint
- Laxity in the ligament
- Sprinting
- Sport requiring quick change of direction
Prevention
- Proper conditioning with a regular exercise program
- Warm up prior to any exercise session or sports activity
- Wear appropriate protective gear for sport or activity
- Take time to cool down properly after exercise
- Give injuries time to heal before return to activity.
Diagnosis
Can be mild, moderate, or severe depending on damage to the ligament
- Mild- grade 1-slight stretching and some damage to the fibers of the ligament.
- Moderate- grade 2- partial tearing of the ligament. There is abnormal looseness (laxity) in the joint when it is moved in certain ways.
- Severe- grade 3- Complete tear of the ligament. This causes significant instability and makes the joint nonfunctional.
Treatment options:
Most muscle strains are treated non-surgically with rest, ice, compression, elevation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and mild physical rehabilitation exercises. More severe strains resulting in tearing of the muscle or tendon may require surgery to stitch the torn pieces back together.
Why Rothman Institute?
Rothman Institute Orthopedic physicians are trained to diagnose muscle strains through their physical evaluations. However, an MRI may be needed in some cases to determine the extent, or grade, of damage to the muscle or tendon.
