Muscle Strain

A muscle strain occurs when muscle fibres cannot cope with the demands placed on them by exercise overload and leads to tearing of the fibres. It is most likely to occur during sudden acceleration or deceleration. Management includes first aid to minimise bleeding and swelling (RICE), electrotherapy modalities (e.g. ultrasound ultrasound) to promote efficient scar formation, massage, stretching and strengthening (in the end stages of healing).

Predisposing factors of muscle strains include; ineffective warm-up, poor flexibility (tight muscles), fatigue, overuse and muscle imbalance (when muscle groups are excessively stronger or weaker in relation to each other).

Compare to ligament sprain