How to Recognize When to Seek Medical Care for Muscle Strain

Muscle strain occurs when stretching the muscle beyond its limits causes tearing or separation from the tendons and ligaments. While milder muscle strains can be treated at home by resting the injured area and applying ice and compression, it is helpful to know when a muscle is strained to the point where medical care is required.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Recognize When to Seek Medical Care for Muscle Strain

1. Recognize any popping or tearing sensations at the time of the injury, which are usually followed immediately by sudden and severe pain. This is one of the best ways to determine that a muscle strain is severe enough to warrant immediate medical care from a physician.

2. See if the injured area is painful to the touch and if any bruising or swelling occurs. There is often damage to the blood vessels that are attached to the muscles and tendons when a muscle is torn, causing some bleeding underneath the skin. Also pay attention to red streaks that may appear in or around the injured area.

3. Seek medical care if you start to feel feverish, which is a common symptom of severe muscle strain. This symptom is generally due to the acceleration of blood circulation during swelling or bruising.

4. Go to the emergency room if the muscle strain is accompanied by any cuts or abrasions. An infection can definitely aggravate the healing of a muscle strain and should not be taken lightly, no matter how small the cut.

5. Check for unusual bumps, lumps or other deformities in the injured area, which can happen when the muscle tears away from the tendons and ligaments.

6. Find immediate medical assistance is you cannot put any weight on the injured area, if you are unable to move or flex the injured area or if the limb or area buckles when you try to use it.

7. Log onto Web sites like Healiohealth.com for more tips on different treatments and when to seek medical help after a muscle strain (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Poor conditioning is one of the main causes of muscle strains. If you are starting any exercise regimen for the first time, it is important to recognize your own conditioning level and start off slowly, which will help you to build up muscle strength gradually.

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[grouch]

on 3/25/2008 Thanks for the information. They don't give instructions with kids and the muscle strain is a cheif complaint in this house.