Strains

A partial tearing of the muscles at the junction of the muscle and the tendon that joins it to a bone. Strains involve muscles, tendons.

Causes

Strains are usually associated with overuse injuries. It occurs when a muscle or a group of muscles is overstretched & possibly torn by violent or sudden movement. Example: lifting heavy weights incorrectly.

Signs & Symptoms

* Pain or tenderness around the site of injury. Severity increases with the extent of injury.

* Swelling in the area of injury.

Aims

* To relieve pain and subside swelling.

* To prevent further tearing of the muscles.

Treatment

RICE treatment (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

1. Rest, steady & support injured part in most comfortable position.

2. Apply an ice pack or cold compress to cool a recent injury to reduce swelling at 2-hour intervals for 24 hours.

3. Wrap the injured part in a thick layer of padding and bandage firmly.

4. Raise & support injured muscle.

If pain persists, consult a doctor. Do not try to massage the casualty as it causes more swelling.

Muscle Strain

Occurs due to inadequate warm up, lack of flexibility, fatigue and insufficient strength. An acute pain is felt in the calf during stretching. There may be some difficulty in walking. Bruises are obvious around the injured area. Seek immediate medical attention if there is a cracking or ripping sound as the muscle may be ruptured.

Groin Strain

A common injury suffered during sports like soccer, athletics. It is caused by not enough warm-up, fatigue, and lack of flexibility, strength and using the wrong technique or equipment or muscle imbalance. An immediate pain is felt and with difficulty in sitting down with legs squeezed together.

Lower Abdominal Strain

Occurs in sports like soccer and squash, which will strain the muscles of our lower abdominal. Pain is experienced during running, twisting and turning and sneezing.