This article is about the injury. For other uses, see Strain.
| Strain (injury) |
| Classification and external resources |
| ICD-10 |
M62.6, T14.3 |
| ICD-9 |
848.9 |
| MeSH |
D013180 |
A strain is an injury to a muscle in which the muscle fibers tear as a result of overstretching. A strain is also colloquially known as a pulled muscle. The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain.[1]
Contents
- 1 Symptoms
- 2 Causes
- 3 Treatment
- 4 See also
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Symptoms
Two images of the same strain. One of the pictures was shot through a mirror.
Typical symptoms of a strain include localized stiffness, discoloration and bruising around the strained muscle.
Causes
Strains are a result of muscular-fiber tears due to over stretching; they are very painful. Although strains are not restricted to athletes and can happen while doing everyday tasks, people who play sports are more at risk of developing a strain.
Treatment
The first-line treatment for a muscular strain in the acute phase include five steps commonly known as P.R.I.C.E.[2][3]
- Protection: Apply soft padding to minimize impact with objects.
- Rest: Rest is necessary to accelerate healing and reduce the potential for reinjury.
- Ice: Apply ice to reduce swelling by reducing blood flow to the injury site. Never ice for more than 20 minutes at a time.
- Compression: Wrap the strained area to reduce swelling with a soft-wrapped bandage.
- Elevation: Keep the strained area as close to the level of the heart as is conveniently possible to keep blood from pooling in the injured area.
The ice and compression (cold compression therapy) will stop the pain and swelling while the injury starts to heal itself. Controlling the inflammation is critical to the healing process, and the icing further restricts fluid leaking into the injured area as well as controlling pain.
Cold compression therapy wraps are a useful way to combine icing and compression to stop swelling and pain.
This immediate treatment is usually accompanied by the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs[4] (e.g., ibuprofen), which both reduce the immediate inflammation and relieve pain. However, NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen, affect platelet function (this is why they are known as "blood thinners") and should not be taken during the period when tissue is bleeding because they will tend to increase blood flow, inhibit clotting, and thereby increase bleeding and swelling. After the bleeding has stopped, NSAIDs can be used with some effectiveness to reduce inflammation and pain.
It is recommended[5] that the person injured should consult a medical provider if the injury is accompanied by severe pain, if the limb cannot be used, or if there is noticeable tenderness over an isolated spot. These can be signs of a broken or fractured bone, a sprain, or a complete muscle tear.
Therapeutic ultrasound can be used to break down poorly healed muscle strains and permit them to heal properly.
See also
- Repetitive strain injury
- Pulled hamstring
- Sprain
References
- ^ Fitness For Dummies p 60, Suzanne Schlosberg, Liz Neporent, For Dummies, 2005, ISBN 0-7645-7851-0
- ^ MedicalMnemonics.com: 235
- ^ T. A. Järvinen, et al., "Muscle injuries: optimising recovery" , Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol., 21 (2) Apr 2007, pp. 317-31.
- ^ TJ Noonan and WE Garrett, Jr, "Muscle strain injury: diagnosis and treatment," Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 7 (4), Jul-Aug 1999, pp. 262-9, see web version (accessed Aug. 25, 2008)
- ^ R. Neustaedter, "Natural Treatment for Injuries" (accessed Aug. 25, 200
External links
- Questions and Answers about Sprains and Strains - US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Dislocations/subluxations, sprains and strains
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Joints and
ligaments |
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Head and neck
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- Dislocation of jaw
- Whiplash
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Shoulder and upper arm
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- GH (Dislocated shoulder)
- AC (Separated shoulder)
- ALPSA lesion
- SLAP tear
- Bankart lesion
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Elbow and forearm
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- Nursemaid's elbow
- Gamekeeper's thumb
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Hip and thigh
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Knee and leg
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- Tear of meniscus
- Anterior cruciate ligament injury
- Unhappy triad
- Patellar dislocation
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Ankle and foot
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- Sprained ankle (High ankle sprain)
- Metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain (Turf toe)
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Muscles and
tendons |
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Shoulder and upper arm
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Hip and thigh
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Knee and leg
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- Patellar tendon rupture
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Shin splints
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Index of joint
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| Description |
- Anatomy
- head and neck
- cranial
- arms
- torso and pelvis
- legs
- bursae and sheathes
- Physiology
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| Disease |
- Arthritis
- acquired
- back
- childhood
- soft tissue
- Congenital
- Injury
- Symptoms and signs
- Examination
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| Treatment |
- Procedures
- Drugs
- rheumatoid arthritis
- gout
- topical analgesics
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Index of muscle
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| Description |
- Anatomy
- head
- neck
- arms
- chest and back
- diaphragm
- abdomen
- genital area
- legs
- Muscle tissue
- Physiology
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| Disease |
- Myopathy
- Soft tissue
- Connective tissue
- Congenital
- abdomen
- muscular dystrophy
- Neoplasms and cancer
- Injury
- Symptoms and signs
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| Treatment |
- Procedures
- Drugs
- anti-inflammatory
- muscle relaxants
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