Most people are familiar with a strain injury, which is an injury to a muscle or tendon. These types of injuries are very common, particularly during sports and exercise. A strain can cause pain and discomfort, but in most cases,it can be treated successfully with conservative treatment methods. If you have a strain, read the following guide to help you manage your injury successfully.
What Is a Strain?
A strain occurs when fibers of a muscle or tendon (the fibrous tissue that attaches a muscle to the bone) become overstretched or torn. It is different to a sprain, which is an injury to a ligament, the strong tissue that connects bones together.
Strains can affect muscles anywhere in the body, but they are most common in the legs, back, chest, arms, and abs.Muscles and tendons can get injured through over stretching, overuse, repetitive motions, or a direct impact, such as receiving a heavy blow to the muscle. Although a strain can affect anyone, they are more common in athletes and active people.
Symptoms of a Strain
Signs and symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the strain, but may include:
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Bruising or redness
- Swelling
- Limited motion
- Muscles weakness
- Cramping and/or muscle spasms
- A popping sensation at the time of the injury
Self-Care Treatment for Strains
Treatment will depend on the severity of the strain, but mild strains can often be treated successfully at home. For immediate self-care of a strain, you should:
- Rest your injury to protect it from further damage.
- Elevate the injury above the level of your heart (if possible) to reduce swelling.
- Wrap the injury with an elastic bandage to support the injury and reduce inflammation.
- Apply cold packs to the area for 15-20 minutes, repeating every 2-3 hours to bring down swelling.
Over-the-counter pain medications may be recommended for short-term use, but you should check with your healthcare provider before using some medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can increase your risk of bleeding.
When you are able to move the injured area without too much pain, keep the injured area mobile with gentle but frequent movements in order to prevent stiffness in the joint or muscle. You should,however, avoid strenuous activities until your sprain has fully healed to prevent further injury.
If you are concerned about your injury, experience numbness or tingling, or your symptoms get worse despite selfcare, seek medical care as soon as possible.
Diagnosing a Strain
A doctor can diagnose a strain by carrying out a physical examination. They will assess for swelling and areas of tenderness, any obvious defects, the location and intensity of the pain, and they will evaluate your muscle strength and range of motion. In some cases, an X-ray,MRI, or ultrasound may also be recommended to assess the severity of the injury and rule out other types of injuries, such as a fracture.
Strains are graded depending on how bad the injury is and to determine the right course of treatment for the strain:
- A grade one strain is a mild strain and means there is slight damage to the muscle or tendon fibers. There may be tenderness at the injury site, accompanied by some pain. There is usually some strength in the affected area, but certain activities may cause pain.
- A grade two strain is a moderate strain, where more of the fibers are injured. There is usually pain, with some bruising, swelling, and weakness in the affected area, which makes it difficult to carry on with normal activities.
- A grade three strain is a complete tear of the muscle and/or tendon. The injury is usually very painful, with a lot of swelling and bruising around the affected area. There may also be a popping sensation when the injury happens. Oftentimes,patients lose all strength in the affected area and won’t be able to use the muscle. For example, if the hamstring or calf is affected, it can prevent you from walking.
Your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on the degree and severity of your strain. Some strain injuries may benefit from physical or occupational therapy following injury to help strengthen the damaged muscle, improve stability, and prevent future injuries. Immobilization with a brace or splint may be recommended for more significant strains to promote healing.
Surgery isn’t usually required for a strain, but in rare cases, it may be necessary to repair a severe strain or a complete tear to the muscle or tendon to restore function and mobility. The type of surgery you require will depend on the location of the tear and the muscle involved.
Strains Treatment Near Me in Hartford and Tolland Counties, CT and Springfield, MA
If you have a strain or other musculoskeletal injury, contact the orthopedic experts at Advanced Orthopedics New England. Our board-certified physicians offer a comprehensive range of nonsurgical and surgical specialties and services designed to help relieve your pain from any musculoskeletal injury or disorder and to restore your function and mobility.
To learn more about our services or to book a consultation with one of our orthopedic specialists, call us today at (860) 728-6740.
