Typical signs and symptoms of a strain include pain, functional loss of the involved structure, muscle weakness, contusion, and localized inflammation. A strain can range from mild annoyance to very painful, depending on the extent of injury.
Cause
A strain can occur as a result of improper body mechanics with any activity that can induce mechanical trauma or injury. Generally, the muscle or tendon overstretches and is placed under more physical stress than it can exert. Strains commonly result in a partial or complete tear of a tendon or muscle, or they can be severe in the form of a complete tendon rupture. The most common body location for strains to occur is in the foot, leg, or back.
Acute strains are more closely associated with recent mechanical trauma or injury.
Chronic strains typically result from repetitive movement of the muscles and tendons over a long period of time.
Second degree – torn muscle or tendon tissues; painful, limited motion; possibly some swelling or depression at the spot of the injury.
Third degree – limited or no movement; severe acute pain, though sometimes painless straight after the initial injury
To establish a uniform definition amongst healthcare providers, in 2012 a Consensus Statement on suggested new terminology and classification of muscle injuries was published. The classification suggestion were: Indirect Muscle Injury FUNCTIONAL
STRUCTURAL MUSCLE INJURY • Type 3: Partial Muscle Tear • Type 4: total tear DIRECT MUSCLE INJURY • Bump or Cut: Contact-related
Risk factors
Although strains are not restricted to athletes and can happen while doing everyday tasks, people who play sports are more at risk for developing a strain. It is common for an injury to develop when there is a sudden increase in duration, intensity, or frequency of an activity.
Immediate treatment is usually an adjunctive therapy of NSAIDs and Cold compression therapy. Cold compression therapy acts to reduce swelling and pain by reducing leukocyte extravasation into the injured area. NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen/paracetamol work to reduce the immediate inflammation by inhibiting Cox-1 & Cox-2 enzymes, which are the enzymes responsible for converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandin. However, NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen, affect platelet function 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. A new treatment for acute strains is the use of platelet rich plasma injections which have been shown to accelerate recovery from non surgical muscular injuries. It is recommended 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.
