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Muscle Strains

Muscle Strains

Muscle strains can happen when muscles become over stretched, due to trauma or overuse, causing these fibres to tear. A muscle strain is commonly referred to as a pulled muscle or a muscle tear and can suddenly occur. Any muscle in your body is vulnerable to a muscle strain or tear and they are graded from 1 to 3, this helps to determine the severity of the injury. The grades are as follows:

Grade 1: (Mild) small amount of muscle fibres are torn

Grade 2: (Moderate) significant amount of fibres torn

Grade: (Severe) the muscle is completely ruptures


What are the main causes?

Strains occur when the muscle is put under stress and are forced to perform movements that they are not designed to do e.g. hyperextension,  causes of strains can included:

  • Overload of muscles
  • Fatigue-related muscle strain
  • Microtrauma from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
  • Overuse of muscles
  • Improper use of a muscle

What are the symptoms?

  • Slight pain and tenderness
  • Muscle tightness
  • Moderate pain, muscle weakness, reduced range of movement and swelling/bruising
  • Bruising
  • Weakness
  • Significant pain, inability to weight bare and swelling and bruising
  • Inability to fully stretch the injured muscle

How are these injuries diagnosed?

Our Sports Therapists can perform an examination and assessment to determine whether you have sustained a muscle strain and the severity of the injury. MRI scans may also be required to diagnose muscle strains.


How can we help?

After the examination has been performed, a treatment and rehabilitation program will be designed depending on the severity of the strain. Most of the time, treatments will be used in combination with the following:

  • Ice Therapy
  • Soft tissue Massage
  • Stretching and range of movement exercises
  • Strengthening exercises
  • Aftercare advice

What are the benefits of Sports Therapy treatment?

Sports Therapy treatments for muscle strains help to speed up the recovery process so that you can return to your daily activities and/or sport. Sports Therapy will also help to prevent further injuries from occurring. Benefits of treatment include:

  • Pain reduction
  • Increased range of movement
  • Improvement in muscle strength
  • Promotes healing
  • Prevention of injury reoccurring