A muscle strain, or as it is commonly known “a pulled muscle”, is the result of overstretching or tearing a muscle. While most of us are used to hearing of a hamstring or groin strain, a strain can occur in any muscle in the body. The severity of a strain can vary from a very low grade that will recover in a few days without treatment, to a severe strain that requires surgery.
Muscle strains generally occur as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle. If one exercises without stretching or warming up before activity, is unfit or overweight, engages in sudden or intense levels of activity or is exercising in cold conditions, they are at an increased risk of suffering a muscle strain.
Symptoms of a muscle strain can include pain and stiffness, swelling, limited movement, weakness, bruising and cramping.
Treatment of a muscle strain is dependent on its severity. Having said this therapy will tend to consist of a combination of soft tissue therapy, targeted stretching, interferential therapy (similar to a TENS machine), dry needling, Graston, laser, ultrasound, kinesio taping, ice, compression, rest in the initial stages and then rehabilitative exercises in the later stages of the recovery.
