A muscle pull, or also called a muscle strain, occurs when there is an overload in a muscle. This is stretched too much and can cause breakage of some muscle fibers, the entire tendon or the muscle itself where the injury has occurred. This type of injury is more common in people who play sports, in people who are preparing for a competition and elite athletes.
However, anyone can suffer a muscle strain at a time when the muscles of the body are under great strain. Also it is common in the elderly, especially in those who perform repetitive movements and who often suffer from other muscle problems such as tendinitis. Do you want to know how to detect and act on a muscle pull? We'll tell you then.
Symptoms of pulled muscle
The clearest symptom of pulled muscle is the intense pain it produces the injury, often located near the joints in the arms and legs. This injury can occur after a blow, while running or after a very demanding training session. In addition to the intense pain, the person suffering from the muscle pull will have difficulty walking or moving the arm, depending on where the injury occurs.
In addition to the pain and difficulty in moving the limb where the muscle pull has occurred, a hematoma may appear in the area, a clear sign that there is fiber breakage in the least of cases or of the affected muscle in the most serious cases. Will also occur swelling and the area will feel warmer than the rest of the body.
Depending on the type of injury, severity is classified into three grades:
- 1 degree. First degree or slight, is when the injury occurs when muscle fibers stretch but there is no breakage. This injury takes about a week to subside, it is painful but to a fairly mild degree.
- 2 degree. In this case the injury is moderate and there is damage or laceration to muscle fibers or in the tendon. Generally, the pain is more intense and lasts longer, and can last between 1 and 3 weeks.
- 3rd grade. A serious injury with total muscle or tendon tear. The pain is very intense, there is hematoma, inflammation and a change in temperature in the area where the injury is.
If you suspect that you may have suffered a pulled muscle, you should stop physical activity and go to medical services as soon as possible. In order to determine the degree of severity of the injury, it will be necessary to perform at least one X-ray, in addition to the tests that the specialist may require at the time.
How to act
At the moment in which the injury occurs and the first symptoms of muscle pull appear, cold must be applied immediately, either with cold compresses or with ice. Avoid making sudden movements and don't underestimate the pain. The injury may be more serious than it may seem at first, since in the most severe cases, the body's reaction in the form of inflammation prevents you from feeling the real pain of the breaking of fibers or the muscle itself.
The treatment of pulled muscle will depend on the severity of the same and the degree of injury. Generally, what is recommended is rest, also applying cold in the area where the muscle pull has occurred. You can also take anti-inflammatories for pain, although it will be the doctor who prescribes the most appropriate in your case according to the needs.
Even in the most severe injury cases, the doctor may recommend some physical therapy sessions to heal the injury completely and that the patient can regain mobility and daily activities. Remember that a poorly treated muscle injury can make recovery longer and more painful. In addition, it can cause other injuries of varying severity to appear.