Strains

A strain is when a muscle is stretched too much and tears. It is also called a pulled muscle. A strain is a painful injury. It can be caused by an accident, overusing a muscle, or using a muscle in the wrong way.

Causes

A strain may be caused by:

• Too much physical activity or effort
• Improperly warming up before a physical activity
• Poor flexibility

Symptoms

Symptoms of a strain can include:

• Pain and difficulty moving the injured muscle
• Discolored and bruised skin
• Swelling

First Aid

• Apply ice right away to reduce swelling. Wrap the ice in cloth. Do not place ice directly on the skin. Apply ice for 10 to 15 minutes every 1 hour for the first day and every 3 to 4 hours after that.
• Use ice for the first 3 days. Either heat or ice may be helpful after that if you still have pain.
• Rest the pulled muscle for at least a day. If possible, keep the pulled muscle raised about your heart.
• Try not to use a strained muscle while it is still painful. When the pain starts to go away, you can slowly increase activity.

When to get medical assistance

Call your local emergency number if:

• You are unable to move the muscle.
• The injury is bleeding.

Call your health care provider if the pain does not go away after several weeks.

Prevention

The following tips may help you reduce your risk of a strain:

• Warm-up properly before exercise and sports.
• Keep your muscles strong and flexible.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000042.htm