A muscle strain is a traumatic injury to muscle fibers or the joint between muscle and tendon. A muscle sprain occurs when there is excessive tension in the muscles or ligaments, or when the muscles are overstrained as a result of loads higher than those allowed for the body.
Muscle strains can occur even in everyday situations - heavy physical work, inept lifting of weights, or being in an unusual or uncomfortable position for a long time can cause muscle problems. Most people pull their back or neck muscles when they try to lift something heavy without bending their knees and keeping their back straight. The muscles in your legs can be pulled if you strain too much while running, walking, jumping, or squatting with a heavy dumbbell without warming up first. In this case, the muscles of the back of the lower leg (calf) are most often stretched. Usually such injuries are accompanied by convulsions.
But muscles are especially often injured when performing various physical exercises and sports. A muscle strain occurs either as a result of too strong muscle contraction, for example, during unexpected sudden movements, or due to abnormal muscle function, such as a sudden change in the direction of the load on the muscle. Muscle strains can occur when performing stretching or flexibility exercises, especially with a partner. Often, muscle strain can occur during a sharp transition from one direction of movement to the opposite, during sudden movements in general, and also if the movements of body parts are uncoordinated. Accidental collisions and falls can also cause a muscle strain .
Factors contributing to muscle strain are a poorly developed muscle corset, as well as low daily physical activity of a person. Very often, muscle strain occurs due to intense physical activity, disproportionate to capabilities, as well as when the load is placed on unstretched, unheated muscles. Proper warm-up, “warming up” the muscles before performing physical work, reduces the likelihood of a sprain.
Muscle strains and microtears are accompanied by the development of painful muscle spasms. Soreness indicates damage, so you should stop exercising as soon as you feel pain.
When a muscle is pulled, there is usually pain, swelling, or swelling in the injured area. Hematomas may appear. Pain from a muscle strain can be either mild or very severe, significantly limiting physical activity. If the back muscle is strained, then any additional load - turning or bending - leads to increased pain. Rest, on the contrary, helps reduce pain. As the muscle strain wears off, small scars may appear, so the muscle may not be as flexible or strong after the injury. Often damage to the back muscles is accompanied by the development of swelling of the lumbar region and the appearance of bruises. If the muscle cannot be contracted, consult a doctor; this may be a sign of a tear or rupture of the muscle.
Muscle strains are classified into three levels of severity:
Treatment for a muscle strain can take anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the extent of the damage. It is worth noting that muscle strains —especially back muscles—are often accompanied by ligament sprains. In this case, the recovery period may be delayed.
Provide rest to the injured muscle. When a muscle is strained, physical exertion and sudden movements should be avoided (complete absence of load on the damaged area is mandatory for 48 hours).
At first it’s cold. If you strain a muscle, apply ice to the injured muscle as soon as possible (for at least 20 minutes) and then apply ice every 4 hours for 48 hours to reduce pain and swelling. Pre-packaged ice packs, cubes wrapped in a damp towel, or even bags of frozen vegetables (like green peas) will work. However, you should not apply ice directly to the skin; it should be protected with a towel or wipes.
Fixation of the injured limb. If bruising occurs, it is necessary to apply an elastic bandage to the damaged area and place the limb in an elevated position to prevent the increase in tissue swelling.
If necessary, when stretching a muscle, you can use medications (analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs)
After 48 hours, the injured area will benefit from warmth. You can use warm compresses and hot baths. that is very effective and convenient at this stage of treatment for muscle strain . Read more >>>
Thanks to its unique properties, the NANOPLAST forte medical plaster not only relieves inflammation, but also has an analgesic effect, improves blood circulation in the injured area, and accelerates the resorption of hematomas. The course of treatment for a muscle strain usually lasts from 3 to 9 days.
In the case of a mild muscle strain, the healing process takes several days (usually no more than 3-5 days). For more severe sprains, and especially muscle tears, the treatment process will take a longer time (1-6 weeks). In this case, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), usually in tablet form, are used for anti-inflammatory treatment of soft tissue injuries. And here NANOPLAST forte can provide significant help - its use allows you to reduce the dosage and duration of NSAID use. Long-term course use of NANOPLAST forte is possible. Consult a specialist.
After pain and swelling have passed, restorative physical therapy is necessary.
Calf Muscle Strain (Pulled Calf Muscle; Gastrocnemius Strain; Gastrocnemius Tear; Gastrocnemius Muscle Injury)
A calf muscle strain is a partial tear of small muscle fibers. The calf muscles are located at the back of the lower leg.
A calf muscle strain can be caused by:
Factors that increase the likelihood of a calf strain include:
Symptoms of a calf strain include:
The doctor will ask about symptoms, recent physical activity, how the accident occurred, and examine the injured area to look for:
Tests may include:
Calf muscle strains are differentiated depending on their severity.
For severe calf strains in athletes, an MRI may be needed. The scan will help calculate the duration of recovery.
Treatment depends on the severity of the injury and usually includes:
Your doctor may recommend taking mild pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen to help relieve pain.
If you experience soreness in your calf muscles while taking these medications, do not resume physical activity without your doctor's approval.
During the first 24 hours after a sprain:
Further care after a calf muscle strain:
If you have been diagnosed with a calf strain, follow your doctor's instructions.
To prevent calf muscle strain:
A muscle strain in the leg involves damage to the muscle fibers or the areas where they connect to the tendons due to a sudden or strong impact on them. It can occur even in a person not involved in professional sports. Among athletes, especially beginners, sprains and dislocations are common. A calf muscle strain is the most common type of injury.
All human motor activity is associated with the calf muscle. It helps keep the body balanced in an upright position while moving. Also, with the help of the calf muscles, the lower leg is flexed at the knee joint and the foot is adducted. Therefore, injuries occur frequently. A muscle strain in the leg can occur not only during sports or heavy work, but also during rest.
The main reasons that contribute to muscle strain in the lower extremities include:
Factors that increase the risk of leg muscle strain include:
Leg muscle strain has several symptoms. These include:
Depending on the severity, sprains are divided into the following types:
If you sprain your leg, it is important to immediately provide first aid. It involves applying a cold compress. You can use ice, snow or food from the freezer.
Important! To prevent hypothermia, do not apply ice directly to the skin. It is wrapped in a cloth towel or napkin.
The injured leg needs to be kept at rest. Walking or moving your leg is prohibited. It is recommended to lie or sit, but in such a way that the injured leg is higher than the body.
To reduce swelling, fixation is recommended. It will ensure muscle rest. An ordinary elastic bandage is used for fixation. Even with a slight sprain, it is imperative to rest the injured leg for several days.
If you have strained a muscle in your leg, you should consult a traumatologist. The specialist will conduct an examination and interview you regarding the symptoms that appear. The doctor must pay attention to increased sensitivity of tissues, hematomas and pain.
It is important not to confuse injury with other serious illnesses. For example, it is impossible to distinguish a sprained leg muscle from venous thrombosis without special diagnosis. Therefore, in addition, MRI, Doppler ultrasound and a general blood test are prescribed.
The treatment method for muscle sprains in the leg depends on the degree of damage.
If the muscles are slightly pulled, it is recommended to avoid putting stress on the damaged area until the rehabilitation period is completed. The duration is no more than 3 weeks. A grade 1 sprain requires action to immobilize the leg. To prevent the formation of hematomas, cold is applied to the damaged area. To prevent swelling, it is necessary to make a bandage. The fixation should not be tight. Otherwise, the healing process will slow down and blood circulation will be impaired.
After 48 hours from the moment of injury, it is allowed to use warming ointments. They improve blood circulation at the site of injury, eliminate swelling and accelerate healing.
With a moderate degree of sprain, it is necessary to provide complete rest to the injured leg for two days. The set of measures carried out immediately after injury must correspond to the actions for first aid. Taking painkillers is recommended only in cases of severe pain. If there is swelling, you should avoid medications that affect blood clotting. At night, it is recommended to apply cooling ointments and creams to the sprain site.
5-7 days after the pain disappears, therapy continues with warming medications. The action of ointments is aimed at stimulating microcirculation in tissues and restoring their elasticity. Light massage, simple exercises and physiotherapeutic procedures (for example, ultrasound, magnetic therapy) speed up the healing process.
It is recommended to return to exercise gradually and only after complete recovery.
Severe sprains, which are accompanied by complete rupture of the ligaments, require prolonged treatment. More often it takes more than a month. Broken fibers do not heal on their own. Therefore, surgery is required. In case of damage to blood vessels, it is necessary to stop the bleeding. After surgery, the same actions are carried out as during first aid (immobilization, application of cold, pressure bandage, raising the leg).
After the main treatment, a rehabilitation period begins. This includes exercise and physiotherapy. The attending physician individually selects exercises depending on which muscle was damaged.
It will be possible to return to your previous lifestyle only after 3 months. Typically, after a severe injury, the risk of re-straining the same muscle increases.
Following a number of recommendations will help you avoid sprains. These include:
A sprained leg should be treated promptly, especially if there is a rupture or serious injury. Negligence towards health can lead to serious complications. The most dangerous is local tissue necrosis. Therefore, it is very important to know what to do when you sprain. It is necessary to constantly follow preventive recommendations, and if injured, consult a doctor immediately.
Muscle strain is a common injury, provoked by significant physical activity or simple rapid movements. Sometimes, with such an injury, a person feels a rupture that has occurred, followed by severe pain.
Stretching of the leg muscles occurs:
Treatment depends on the severity. More often it takes from a week to two months to fully recover.
If after an injury a person feels severe pain in the leg, is unable to immediately move the limb, or movements are severely limited, it is likely that the leg muscles have been strained.
Symptoms are associated with characteristic swelling in the sprained area, and hemorrhage is noted. Symptoms indicate that a blood vessel has ruptured. Common symptoms include severe pain if you try to touch the injury site. The pain is accompanied by cramps. The symptoms of a fracture differ from a muscle strain; more often, the deformation of the leg is even outwardly visible. After a week or two, the sprain symptoms disappear. If a muscle tear occurs, symptoms do not go away within 4-5 weeks.
Only a doctor will accurately determine the severity of the leg injury after a thorough examination. If there is doubt about the diagnosis, an x-ray is taken. The study will accurately determine damage to bone tissue.
Depending on the severity of a person’s damage to his own leg, medical practice notes a gradation of degrees of illness associated with stretched leg muscles:
If a leg sprain has been accurately determined, the injury does not require special diagnostics. The doctor will examine the patient, determine the symptoms and make a final diagnosis. Then treatment begins immediately.
If the case is complex or there is no confidence in the exact diagnosis, an ultrasound will be needed. The method will accurately show whether a sprain or rupture of the ligaments has occurred. An ultrasound will be able to determine the presence of obvious injuries that will require longer treatment than a sprain.
Treating a sprained leg muscle is not a simple process as it seems at first glance. Depends on the severity of the injury. For example, for mild cases, treatment takes 7 days. A severe form of the disease will require a longer recovery. An important point is the fact that the person received help on time and correctly.
First, you will need to provide complete rest to the injured leg. The limb remains immobile for two days. If an injury to the lower leg or thigh occurs, bed rest is necessary. In case of urgent need to stand up, doctors recommend using crutches, and it is forbidden to overload the leg.
You need to apply cold, for example, a compress, to the damaged area. It will relieve swelling and reduce the development of hemorrhage. You will need to keep the ice on your shins for 20 minutes. Apply cold compresses every 4 hours for two days.
Ice can be harmful if placed directly on the skin. It is imperative to wrap the pieces in cloth; similar advice applies, for example, to vegetables from the freezer. After two days, cold compresses are replaced with warm ones. Taking a warm bath will be beneficial.
If the ligaments are damaged, it is better to fix the limb using an elastic bandage. An injury with bruising should not be neglected; treatment involves fixing the leg in an elevated position. In this way, it will be possible to avoid increasing swelling. Along with these methods, it is recommended to take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. They are prescribed by the doctor. For example, ointments containing non-steroidal agents.
Later, a massage and a series of exercises are prescribed to alleviate the condition. Doctors will recommend special physiotherapy.
Approximate treatment plan for moderate injury:
Restoring the lower leg is a complex process; treatment should not be delayed. It is better to immediately contact experienced doctors. It is important to remember that repeated injury to the injured part of the leg will be more painful and treatment will take longer.
If complete ruptures of the thigh or lower leg muscles are noted, the muscles completely cease to function. When using only conservative treatment methods, a large scar appears, and it is recommended to stop playing sports. If you turn to the surgical method, the scar will remain much thinner and the muscle will practically recover.
At home, in the first two days after the injury, cold is applied to the sore spot, then they move on to warm compresses. Heated sand or salt is poured inside a fabric bag. It is permissible to put a warm heating pad, the iodine net will have an effect, you need to apply it twice a day. As a warming compress, use gauze soaked in warm milk: secure with a bandage and make sure to replace it in time as it cools.
Sprains are usually treated with various ointments; the course of treatment will be determined by the doctor and the duration of use of gels and ointments. An ointment to improve the condition of your feet is easy to prepare at home. You will need water, yolk and laundry soap. To obtain a homogeneous mass, the soap is crushed, preferably using a fine grater. A spoonful of soap is mixed with two tablespoons of water and an yolk. The mass is wrapped in gauze and applied to the sore spot. For convenience, secure the compress with a bandage. It has been noticed that homemade ointment relieves pain and muscles recover faster.
For warming compresses, alcohol or vodka, clay, even puff pastry are used. The hematoma will disappear faster due to the bodyagi. Natural apple or wine vinegar helps with sprains. Vegetables are used in folk treatment: grated potatoes, onions and garlic. If we talk about medicinal plants, they use plantain, elecampane, elderberry and juice, aloe leaves, and eucalyptus oil.
To relieve swelling, use aloe leaf. It is crushed, placed directly on the tumor, and fixed with a bandage. There is no clear scheme for using aloe compress. The only condition is that when the pulp gets hot, you need to remove it from your feet.
Sprains are treated with herbal baths. For example, brew calendula, birch leaves, plantain, chamomile and string. Dilute the broth with warm water and make baths for the sore leg. The water should not be hot.
When it comes to lower leg injuries, older people are at risk. It is important for older people to avoid significant stress and any kind of overwork of the leg muscles. It is recommended to adhere to proper nutrition in order to maintain muscle mass in good condition for a long time. Once a diagnosis has been established, the body can be supported with the help of strengthening supplements.
A poorly developed muscle corset contributes to frequent muscle strain: a person moves little, there is no physical activity during the day.
Throughout life, you need to carry out a kind of gymnastics for your muscles, sometimes relaxing them, sometimes straining them. Recommended for all people, including athletes. It is important to maintain strength during exercise. Maximum muscle tension can lead to sprains, it is better to determine the optimal strength for yourself, then perform the exercises.
As for athletes, before starting training you will need to carry out a series of simple exercises to warm up the body. A kind of preparation of the ligaments for heavy loads is carried out. The temperature of the muscle during light exercises becomes higher, due to this the muscle acquires elasticity and firmness.
Many people are familiar with a sprained leg muscle firsthand: someone misplaced their foot while jumping on the step of a departing bus, someone was late for a meeting with a client and injured their leg by slipping on ice, and someone unsuccessfully made a U-turn in the gym during workout. The disastrous result of all these sudden and awkward movements can be a strain in the leg muscles.
With intense, excessive stress on unheated, unflexed muscles, as well as during sudden movements, strong muscle tension occurs.
At this time, a person may feel as if the muscles have burst or torn. In fact, during heavy loads, the muscle tissue or tendon that connects the muscle to the adjacent bone is overstretched. Often, a sprain occurs specifically in the leg, but cases of sprain of the neck, elbow and back muscles are also common.
As a rule, symptoms of a leg muscle strain do not take long to appear. The very first and most unpleasant sign of a sprained leg muscle is pain. It can be either strong, sharp, paralyzing further movement, or insignificant. After some time, the damaged area begins to swell, swelling and severe swelling may appear. The body temperature at the site of the sprain rises, and the site becomes hot to the touch. In some cases, hematoma and even bleeding may occur. After the illness passes, small scars may remain on the skin; in this case, the skin is no longer as strong and elastic as before. If, during the stretching of the leg muscles, the joint was too tense, then it is quite possible to diagnose torn ligaments and other elements that support the joint. The damaged joint can be very sensitive and painful when pressed.
If a leg muscle strain results in severe swelling and bleeding, the following measures should be taken immediately:
1 Lie down or sit down, placing your leg so that it bears minimal load. You should not make any sudden movements or strain your leg for at least 48 hours;
2 Immediately after a leg muscle sprain occurs, you should apply something cold to the damaged area: an ice pack, a bag of frozen berries (vegetables), and even a frozen piece of meat wrapped in a bag and then in a towel. It is not recommended to apply frozen objects to the affected area without a towel, rag or napkin - the skin must be protected;
3 Apply a compressive, elastic bandage (bandage) to the damaged area of the leg;
4 The affected leg (arm, etc.) must be kept elevated at all times.
How to treat a sprained leg muscle after 48 hours? Now you can do the following with your sore leg:
1 Apply warm compresses and ointments to it - they improve the healing process by accelerating blood flow;
2 Take a hot bath, making small movements in the bath with the injured leg;
3 Slowly and gently perform a set of 10 exercises a day necessary for a stretched muscle. You should knead the muscle without making sudden movements and without putting too much strain on the sore leg;
4 You should not lean on your sore leg or limp - it is recommended to walk as before. If pain occurs when pressing on the leg, you can use a cane or crutch;
5 The set of exercises must be repeated regularly, every day, so that the muscles develop and return to their normal position;
6 The main task of the patient is to bring the muscles of the injured leg to their previous state, making them strong, resilient and elastic;
7 If a sprain is severe, an x-ray should be taken to confirm the integrity (or damage) of the bone.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cope with such an ailment as a sprained leg muscle on your own. If, after a week from the moment of injury to the leg, the swelling does not go away and the joint continues to hurt, then treatment for a sprained leg muscle should be continued under the supervision of a doctor. After conducting a series of studies and determining the severity of the injury, the doctor may prescribe medication.
One of the best preventative measures against leg muscle strain is to exercise your body. In addition, when visiting the gym, you should not forget that any loads are allowed only after the muscles have warmed up. By following these simple rules, you can prevent the occurrence of this disease.
A sprained calf muscle is one of the most common injuries. Such an injury can occur even after the slightest physical activity. When stretched, a person experiences a sensation of tearing, and then very severe pain. What causes sprains, and how is the disease treated?
There are many reasons why you can get a sprain. The main ones include:
You can tell that a person has a sprain if, after the injury, severe pain occurs and movement of the leg becomes difficult. Swelling appears in the area of the sprain, and a bruise may form due to rupture of blood vessels. A combination of pain and cramps is possible.
A sprain differs from a fracture in that in the latter case the deformation of the leg is visually noticeable. With a sprain, the symptoms will subside within a few weeks. But, if a muscle rupture occurs due to an injury, the pain can last up to one month.
Only a specialist can determine the severity of the disease. This will require a thorough examination of the injured limb. If there is a problem with making a diagnosis, an x-ray is taken. With its help, you can accurately see the picture of the damage, including whether the bone tissue is damaged.
Experts divide leg muscle injuries into several degrees of severity. For each degree certain symptoms appear:
This injury does not require a specific diagnosis. If a person has torn or pulled muscles or ligaments in the lower leg, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately. Most often, the diagnosis is made immediately after examining the patient. The injury requires immediate treatment.
An ultrasound may be recommended if the damage is complex and there is no confidence in making a diagnosis. Using ultrasound, it is possible to determine the exact nature of the damage.
Treatment for a calf strain depends on the symptoms and requires a serious approach. Its duration will depend on the severity. For mild damage, therapy may last no more than one week. First medical aid, which was provided to the patient on the spot, plays an important role in recovery.
First of all, the injured limb should be given rest. The leg should not be disturbed for at least two days. If a leg injury occurs simultaneously with a hip injury, the patient is required to remain in bed. In addition, medical professionals strongly recommend that at first you walk only with crutches, so as not to overload the sore leg.
The method of providing assistance can be seen in the video. After receiving an injury, apply a cold compress to the injury site. Cold will help relieve swelling. The ice compress should be kept for at least 20 minutes. This procedure is repeated every four hours for at least two days.
When carrying out the procedure, it is important to follow certain rules, otherwise the ice may cause harm. The compress should not be placed on the bare part of the leg. The limb should be wrapped in cloth. Cold procedures should not be done for more than two days. After this time, they are replaced with warm ones.
Damage and sprain of the ligaments requires fixation of the limb. An elastic bandage is suitable for these purposes. If the injury is accompanied by bruising, the leg should be fixed in an elevated position. This will help prevent swelling. In addition, treatment for a sprained calf muscle at home should be carried out with anti-inflammatory and painkillers. They must be prescribed by a doctor. Non-steroidal ointments may be prescribed to relieve inflammation.
After the first symptoms are relieved, therapeutic massage and physical therapy are prescribed. Therapy should be carried out according to a scheme developed by specialists:
Full movement will be allowed only when the person’s pain completely disappears. The patient should not feel discomfort in the lower leg. If an athlete is injured, the return to training should occur gradually.
Before each workout you need to warm up well. If pain is felt during exercise, exercise should be stopped immediately and treatment continued.
For the first two days after injury, it is important to remain calm and apply cold compresses to the injured area. Then I replace them with warm ones. To do this, you can use warm sand or salt, which is placed in a bag.
An iodine grid has a good effect; it is drawn on the site of swelling. It is recommended to apply the mesh at least twice a day.
As a warming compress, you can use gauze, which is pre-moistened in warm milk. As it cools down, replace it with a new one.
You can make your own foot ointment at home. To do this, you will need to grind laundry soap with one yolk and two tablespoons of water. The resulting mass is spread on gauze and tied to the sore spot. The ointment relieves pain and helps quickly restore muscle function.
Bodyaga will help quickly remove hematoma and swelling. In addition, wine vinegar and grated potatoes help with sprains.
Restoring the lower leg after an injury is a very long and complex process. Treatment should not be delayed; if damaged, you should immediately consult a doctor. Repeated stretching or tearing in the same place will cause even more pain, and the treatment will be even longer.
Every person has encountered the problem of stretching in their life. Uncomfortable shoes, slippery roads or sudden changes in body position are the main causes of traumatic damage to muscles and ligaments. In addition to discomfort and pain, a stretched or torn muscle leads to temporary disability.
First aid tactics and further treatment for sprains depend on the location of the pathological process and the degree of its intensity. If the pathological symptoms last more than 8 days, then we are talking about muscle strain with partial tearing.
The clinical picture of lower extremity sprains can be obtained as a result
exposure to such unfavorable factors:
Either one of the mentioned reasons or a combination of them can provoke a muscle strain or rupture. The duration of rehabilitation after such an injury ranges from several days to 1.5 months.
Depending on the degree of traumatic injury and its location, a large muscle strain includes a number of common symptoms:
With a slight stretch of muscle fibers, a person experiences mild pain. Motor activity is not impaired. Pathological stretching of the muscles of the thigh or lower leg is complemented by a tear in the muscle tissue. In this case, the person notices intense pain at rest and during movement, limited mobility and swelling. When pressing on the site of a suspected muscle tear, a person experiences severe pain.
Traumatic strain of the thigh muscles is characterized by the following symptoms:
Pathological stretch of the calf muscle can be recognized by the following:
Characteristic hematomas in areas of muscle damage
Before answering the question of what to do if you have a muscle strain, you need to make sure the diagnosis is correct. The initial steps in diagnosing muscle strains are interviewing the patient, analyzing his complaints, as well as visually assessing the condition of the lower limb. Information regarding the circumstances of the traumatic injury is of great importance.
As additional research methods, the following diagnostic measures are recommended to the patient:
If the listed methods are not very informative, the patient is recommended to undergo magnetic resonance imaging, which allows one to identify the exact location of the stretch and tear of the muscle fibers.
In order for the treatment of muscle strain to be effective, it must be combined with a gentle motor regimen. Regardless of which muscle was damaged, it is recommended to ensure rest for the injured limb during the recovery period. Complex therapy for sprains and tears includes the following points:
Bandaging scheme for stretching thigh muscles
In order to avoid traumatic injury, sports medicine experts recommend adhering to the following rules:
Preventive recommendations are relevant not only for people involved in various sports, but also for the average person.