What Is a Pulled Muscle?

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By Laurie Coyne
eHow Contributing Writer

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If you're physically active, you may have experienced the pain and soreness of a pulled muscle. "Weekend warriors," or people who are sedentary all week and active on the weekends, are particularly prone to pulled or strained muscles. Anyone who overdoes physical activity can pull a muscle.

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Misconceptions

A "pulled" muscle is actually a tear in the muscle fibers from a sudden strain or blow to the muscle. Muscle strain can cause a muscle spasm known as a "charley horse."

Symptoms

You may feel a sudden sharp pain in a muscle, especially after a quick change in direction or an extension or contraction of a limb, followed by residual soreness for several days or weeks. Pulled muscles can occur anywhere in the body.

Causes

Your muscles can tear when the demand on the muscle is greater than your muscle's strength, such as when you overreach for the ball in tennis or volleyball. This is called a distraction rupture. Your muscles can also tear from an impact in a compression rupture, such as when you collide with another player in soccer.

Treatment

Stop exercising immediately. Apply ice to the injured area for at least 20 minutes. Do not apply heat. If you've injured a limb, wrap the area in a compression bandage and elevate it. Rest the muscle until the soreness goes away. If the pain is very severe, see a doctor.

Prevention

Warm up your muscles with some light exercises to increase the blood flow before you engage in a strenuous activity. Gently stretch your muscles after any activity.