At Motion Physio Clinic, we treat many soft tissue injuries. These refer to injuries of the muscles, tendons (which attach muscle to bone), ligaments (which attach bone to bone), and nerves. A muscle tear, strain, or pull refers to damage to a muscle. It can be caused by a sudden pull or overstretching of the area, which results in damage.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, and tenderness on touch. There can also be bruising in the affected region. The severity of the damage is graded as follows:
- Grade 1: Pain may develop after activity, and there is mild pain on muscle contraction or stretch. This feels more like tightness or a cramp. There is usually minimal bruising.
- Grade 2: There is immediate pain at the injury site. It is more painful than Grade 1 and will be painful on muscle contraction and stretch.
- Grade 3: This is a rupture of part of the muscle and will be immediately painful. There will be rapid and significant swelling. Weight-bearing through the region will be painful. There may be a visible lump and an indent where the injury happened.
Grade 1 and 2 strains will take 3–6 weeks to recover. A Grade 3 tear, which is a rupture of part of the muscle, can take up to 3 months to fully heal.
Treatment
The POLICE principle is the first step in managing a muscle strain:
- Protect
- Optimal Loading
- Ice (10 mins only)
- Compression (using a bandage)
- Elevation
This helps to reduce bruising and damage to the area. A maximum of 48 hours of rest is recommended before beginning early rehabilitation.
Your Chartered Physiotherapist will guide your rehabilitation from injury. Starting a controlled resistance program early will assist your rapid return to activities. Hands-on treatments, such as soft tissue release, assisted stretches, and dry needling, can be helpful to aid recovery from injury.
A return-to-play activity program should be followed to avoid re-injury upon returning to sports or daily activities. This is crucial for preventing chronic injuries.
Your Chartered Physiotherapist will guide you back to full pain-free movement and work with you to restore full activity. If you need help with any muscle strain or soft tissue injury, please contact Motion Physio Clinic, Prosperous, on 045 841010.