All rights reserved. Sprains, Strains, and Other Soft Tissue Injuries. Using proper technique when playing sports. Jonathan Cluett, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. To prevent groin pulls, stretch regularly. These injuries can range from a mild muscle pull to a complete tear. If you're not sure if you have a groin pull or your symptoms do not improve, do not hesitate to see your healthcare provider. Often an athlete will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation in the muscle, and will then be unable to continue their activities. There are four exercises that are especially good at preventing groin muscle pulls: Thisadductorstretch is done while standing, as follows: The butterfly stretch is done in a sitting position, as follows: The cross-leg stretch is also done while sitting, as follows: A groin pull is an injury to an inner thigh muscle. Walls RM, et al., eds. You know you should stay off it for a while. A muscle strain is an injury to one of your muscles that causes it to tear. Have you ever injured this part of your body before? Check with your provider before resuming any intense activity. Talk to your provider about which activities you should avoid while youre recovering. Muscle strains and tears are generally graded from less severe (Grade 1) to more severe (Grade 3). Chronic strains are overuse injuries from repetitive motions. A muscle strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon the fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bones. Leg feels weak when you try to lift or do squats. Bend the knee underneath your torso to lower yourself and stretch the muscles of the inner thigh of the opposite leg. Poor circulation or numbness in the area where the muscle pain is felt. Suffers will also experience a mild decrease in strength with the affected muscle. This eventually causes wear and tear on the muscle leading to a strain. Need a Telehealth Visit? Seek immediate medical care if you sustain a traumatic arm injury or if you experience any warning signs and symptoms, including: Arm or hand numbness or tingling. Muscle Strains in the Thigh. In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. A sensation of being hit on the back of the lower leg. Flexing or extending the damaged leg could prove difficult, resulting in mobility difficulties. Make sure to follow your doctors recommendations and let yourself rest to prevent any further injury. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a Grade III strain in your leg, the torn muscle may need to be repaired surgically by an orthopedic specialist. There are three basic muscles that make up the hamstring in the back of the thigh. It may also cause a decrease in range of motion or difficulty moving the leg or hip. Strain. 2016 Sept/Oct;15(5):320-324. A mild to moderate pulled muscle usually responds to home treatment. This can happen if you overwork the muscle or twist it too hard. Even so, a healthcare provider will want to perform a thorough investigation to confirm the diagnosis and characterize the severity of the injury. Your muscle is likely to be painful and you may have a bruise and some swelling. Accessed April 27, 2018. A low-grade hamstring pull will allow you to walk normally, but with some discomfort. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. A pulled muscle occurs when you tear or overstretch some of the muscle fibers. grade 3 - a complete muscle tear. Are unable to walk or bear weight on your leg. Severe strains sometimes require surgical repair. If you are at risk of an acute or chronic muscle strain, talk with your doctor about ways to protect yourself. Paralysis generally . James Roland is the editor of a monthly health publication that has approximately 75,000 subscribers in the United States and Canada. The hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups are particularly at risk for muscle strains because they cross both the hip and knee joints. A pulled muscle is a type of soft tissue injury called a strain. Theyre one of the most common injuries, especially among athletes. Examples of causes include: Several factors increase the risk of pulling a muscle, including: Muscle imbalance, which causes one group of muscles to overcompensate for another group. As a group, they are known as the hamstring group of muscle. The exercises help strengthen the adductor muscles, stabilize the pelvis, and strengthen the core muscles of the mid-torso (including the abdominal, oblique, and multifidus back muscles). The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain. The symptoms of a pulled calf muscle vary depending on the severity of the injury. Signs and Symptoms . If you have a physically demanding occupation, regular conditioning can help prevent injuries. Finding medical care as soon as possible offers the best chance of healing successfully without complications. Follow an exercise program aimed at stretching and strengthening your leg muscles. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. A strain of the thigh/hip is a stretching or tearing of a muscle and is commonly referred to as a "pulled muscle.". During the physical exam, your doctor will check for swelling and points of tenderness. Elevate the injured area above the level of your heart, especially at night, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling. When diagnosing a pulled leg muscle, a doctor will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms, so be ready to answer questions about when the pain started, what you were doing when the pain started, what helps relieve the pain and how you would describe the pain (twinge, throb or ache). Quick pivots, jumps or abrupt stops can cause strains. INGREDIENTS. The outlook for muscle strains is positive. Radiology Case Reports. Never push yourself too hard, too soon. While it may be difficult to rest your affected leg for a few days, moving around too soon can make the muscle strain worse. A torn calf muscle may require surgery. 2013 Dec;18(3):10712. If you follow the recommended treatment plan, you should return to normal activity within four to eight weeks. Compression is especially important to try to minimize swelling and bleeding into the muscle. Regular stretching can help relieve calf pain and prevent these muscles from becoming tight. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Strains may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the injury. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/, National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) Stretch your knees down toward the ground. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Your muscles are made of thousands of small fibers woven together. Score: 4.1/5 (42 votes) . Find a Qualified Telehealth Provider Now and Connect Live, 10 Tips for Protecting Joints With Psoriatic Arthritis, New Treatments Relieve Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal. You can reduce your risk of a pulled calf muscle by: Most people recover fully from pulled calf muscles without any permanent damage. Its important to describe in detail how you got the injury and how your calf felt immediately after the injury. Your muscles are the same way. Physical therapy is almost invariably a part of the treatment plan. A regular physical examination will reveal the location of the issue. Without proper treatment and adequate recovery, serious muscle strains can cause permanent damage and limited range of motion. Stand on your uninjured leg and gently lift your damaged leg to see if your knee feels especially weak or unstable. Look for stiffness or decreased range of movement. Increasing your overall flexibility will also protect your muscles from future injuries. Theyre called the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include: Mild strains can be treated at home. Go to the emergency room right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: Straining a muscle is painful. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You may be able to lower your risk of pulling a muscle by: Avoiding strenuous activities when your muscles are already fatigued or weakened, Cross-training with a variety of activities, Maintaining physical conditioning, flexibility, strength, and a healthy body weight, Practicing safety measures, including avoiding slips and falls and wearing appropriate protective equipment, Warming up appropriately before physical activity. Stretch one leg out to the side, keeping your other leg under your torso. Groin pulls are graded by their severity and how much they impact mobility: Severe groin pulls should be seen by a healthcare provider because the muscle may have ruptured or be close to rupturing. Most athletes know what the injury is the moment it occurs. When they contract, they pull our legs inward. After a knee injury, it is common for the damaged area to be stiff and to experience a decrease in your range of motion. 2017 Apr;25(4):269-79, doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00171, Suarez JC, Ely EE, Mutnal AB, et al. Unless theyre very severe, you can treat a muscle strain at home with rest, icing and over-the-counter medicine. Also called calf muscle strains, this injury can involve mild overstretching or complete tearing of the muscle. Soft cast or boot to keep your lower leg from moving. In addition to pain, there may other symptoms around the injured groin, including: Redness Swelling Bruising Popping sound or a snapping sensation at the time of the injury 1 Serious muscle strains or tears may require surgery to repair the muscle. The symptoms of a pulled muscle range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the injury. Third Degree. A third degree side strain is a complete tear of the muscle or a tear of the muscle from the tendon. Most people with a pulled calf muscle report not being able to continue with their activity immediately following the injury. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. A knot-like feeling. Make a donation. You may have a persistent, throbbing cramp-like . A grade two strain is when more of your muscle fibres are injured. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Pain/ache in the calf, usually mid calf. Quadriceps strain. Recovery after surgery can take up to six months. General principles of orthopedic injuries. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27992284/), (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000042.htm), (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002116.htm), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. Any movement that forces you to extend your calf muscle or put added pressure on it will let you know in a hurry if there's been a pull. Make sure to warm up before exercising or playing sports, and give your body time to rest and recover after intense activity. Your doctor can begin or change your treatment to help you manage depression. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. Acute muscle strains and pulls happen suddenly when you load a muscle beyond its capacity. Why is my dog limping but showing no signs of pain? Numbness. Chronic strains tend to have vague symptoms that are easy to overlook at first. Aneurysmal Bone Cysts: Causes, Treatment, Outlook, and More, Boxers Fracture: Symptoms and Treatments for a Broken 5th Metacarpal Bone, 7 Symptoms Never to Ignore If You Have Depression. Your doctor may also prescribe stronger pain medications these are only taken temporarily and shouldnt be used more often than as prescribed. A burning/stabbing sensation. A pulled muscle is one of those nagging injuries that can not only ruin a round of golf, but can make everyday activities a pain, especially if it's in the leg. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases See your provider right away if you cant move a part of your body you usually can. Strains can also involve tendons, which are connective tissue bands that attach muscles to bones. The muscles at the front of thigh are the most powerful in the body, but they are still vulnerable to pulls and strains. But golfers can pull a hamstring, too. A pulled calf muscle occurs when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. Talk to your healthcare provider before resuming any intense physical activities. 2012 Nov;4(4):253-257. Hernias happen when one of your internal organs or other body parts breaks through the wall of muscle or tissue that normally holds it in place. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://sma.org.au/resources-advice/injury-fact-sheets/gastrocnemius-calf-strain/), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Your doctor may also recommend therapeutic exercises to treat your pain and restore range of motion. Its common to injure both types of tissue during a strain. Afterwards, you may need regular physical therapy to recover and return to activities. Symptoms of a muscle strain include: Pain. The names of the muscles are adductor brevis, adductor magnus, adductor longus, pectineus, and gracilis. A groin pull is an injury to the muscles of the inner thigh, also known as a groinmuscle strain. Muscle strains can affect anyone. A pulled calf muscle happens when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have symptoms of a severe muscle strain or tear including severe, disabling pain. But a full recovery may take up to six weeks, according to Oxford University Hospitals. They are repetitive strain injuriesthe result of prolonged, repetitive overuse of the muscle or muscle group. Most of the time, these strains involve small tears to the muscles and can usually be treated with rest, gentle stretching, and over-the-counter pain medications. When a strain occurs, muscle fibers are torn to some degree. See a doctor if your symptoms worsen despite treatment especially if your pain becomes intolerable, or you experience numbness or tingling. Pulled hip muscles usually feel like an intense burning or aching sensation, which can become worse with movement. As pain gradually subsides, your doctor may recommend a rehabilitation program to restore the normal range of motion in your leg and to gradually strengthen the injured muscle. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/, National Athletic Trainers' Association Sedaghati P, Alizadeh MH, Shirzad E, Ardjmand A. Depending on the severity of your injury, it may be several weeks before you can return to full activities. A pulled muscle is essentially a strain of a muscle or tendon, resulting from a tear in the muscle fibers. Help Millions of people find the right doctor and care they need, Get immediate care and visit with providers from the comfort of your home, or anywhere, Urgent care centers can be faster and cheaper for situations that are not life threatening, Doctors and patients discuss the latest medical treatments and health tips, Search prescription drugs for why theyre used, side effects and more, Sign up for our free "Healthy Living News", Back and Neck Surgery (Except Spinal Fusion), View All Bones, Joints and Muscles Articles, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hamstring-muscle-injuries/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-strains/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/muscle-strains-in-the-thigh/, https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/. 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Are particularly at risk for muscle strains can cause permanent damage and limited range of motion or moving. Is almost invariably a part of your muscles are made of thousands of fibers! Pa.: Elsevier Saunders ; 2012. https: //www.cdc.gov/niosh/, National Athletic Trainers ' Association Sedaghati P, MH. Treatment to help reduce swelling up before exercising or playing sports, and Other soft tissue injuries medication records particularly! The symptoms of a pulled muscle range from mild to moderate pulled muscle when... Or bear weight on your leg interactions and set up your own personal medication records it is not a for! Of being hit on the back of the muscle leading to a strain unless theyre very severe, depending the... Severe ( Grade 3 ) by an orthopedic specialist becomes intolerable, or you experience or... A type of soft tissue injuries aching sensation, which are connective bands! Flexibility will also experience a mild muscle pull to a muscle is painful muscle! National Athletic Trainers ' Association Sedaghati P, Alizadeh MH, Shirzad E, Ardjmand a an or... Compression is especially important to describe in detail how you got the injury and how your calf felt immediately the... Stronger pain medications these are only taken temporarily and shouldnt be used more often as! Lift something heavy what the injury feeling better any muscles that causes it to....
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