Torn Muscle Treatment
Tips for Torn Muscle Treatment
Torn muscle treatment plans may differ depending on the severity of the injury. The muscle tear may be complete or partial. It can be caused by either overexertion or a direct blow. Doctors categorize muscle ruptures into three degrees. If less than five percent of the muscle is involved, then doctors will classify this as a first-degree strain. There will probably be only minor pain and there will not be much loss of strength or range of motion. These are often referred to as pulled muscles.
A muscle rupture that stops short of a complete tear is called a second degree tear. Any use of, or contraction of, the torn muscle causes pain. In the case of a first or second degree tear, a bump or indentation may be felt, usually at the site where the pain is worst. The muscle will remain able to be used, but there will be pain and some weakness.
A complete tear across the muscle is called a third degree rupture. An injury this severe will cause you to be unable to use the muscle at all. A large lump may form under the skin where one end of the torn muscle balls up. There is usually some internal bleeding from the tear and surgery is most likely necessary for you to regain function of your muscle. A complete tear usually happens during a burst type movement. You may hear a “pop” and feel sudden pain.
Torn muscle treatment during the first 72 hours is similar to treatment for many types of sports injuries. The gold standard for initial care of injuries is R.I.C.E. which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. In addition to R.I.C.E, you may benefit from anti inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. The medication will not only help with the swelling, but it will also help reduce pain. With enough rest, the partially torn muscle will reattach, but you may end up with a shorter muscle, so stretching exercises are important.
If the pain persists for longer than expected or if you are at all concerned about the injury, see your physician. If it is torn muscle that does not require surgery, your doctor will most likely prescribe physical therapy to speed the healing. During physical therapy, you will most likely also be shown strength training exercises that will help you prevent future injuries.
Besides resting the muscle, stretching exercises will help improve your range of motion. Don’t begin these until after the sharp pain is gone. It is also best to avoid pain causing activities and impact sports. Once your range of motion has returned and most pain is gone, begin a program of strength training. Remember to use light resistance to begin with. If you start lifting too hard too quickly, you are at a large risk of reinjuring the muscle. You can end up with a chronic muscle strain.
Properly trained muscles perform feats of athleticism. However, if muscles are not trained properly or are injured, significant problems can occur. We’ve all seen the sprinter go down while grasping his torn hamstring. That’s a picture that you don’t want for yourself. A muscle that has been previously injured is more prone to tear again. This is especially true if the previous injury was not properly treated. Proper therapy and strengthening will help you avoid reinjury.
Therefore, torn muscle treatment should focus on the immediate injury itself as well as avoiding long term chronic injuries. Rehab should focus on strength training, flexibility, and overall balance. Core training is important to continued injury free activities, since a strong core will keep you more on balance during activities and that will make it less likely that a serious muscle tear will recur.