How To Treat A Muscle Tear

When we speak of a muscle tear we are dealing with the rupture of the fibers that are inside the tissues of the muscles, either partially or totally. But when this happens how should we act? Let’s see how to treat a muscle tear.

People who have suffered a muscle tear say that it feels like more than one needle is stuck in them and, in many cases, it presents with some degree of bleeding, since the blood vessels that run through the part that has suffered the rupture, they break.

The vast majority of these damages occur when people decide to practice a sport for the first time or those who do it only occasionally due to lack of regular time.

The worst thing is that they do not usually take into account that before starting any physical practice they must carry out an adequate warm-up. 

Muscles with the most injuries

Muscle tears can occur much more frequently in the legs and back. For this reason, we are going to see which muscles it usually affects in order to treat a muscle tear in the best way:

• Calf : the muscles that are injured are those of the lower leg, these muscles have the function of helping to move and lift the heel.
• Quadriceps : the muscles that have been affected are those in the front of the thigh. The main function of these muscles is to help straighten the knee.
• Paravertebral muscles : these are the muscles of the lower back. The main function of these muscles is to hold the spine in place and to support the full weight of the upper body.

Degree of tearing

First degree muscle tear

It is called a muscle strain. The injury occurs when the muscle is stretched to the limit of its elasticity. Patients report severe muscle pain without localized pain. These are fundamentally microscopic lesions, affecting less than 5% of the muscular substance.

Treatment of these injuries consists of rest of the affected muscle and analgesia.

Second degree muscle tear

It is called a partial tear. It is a more extensive injury that occurs when the muscle exerts itself beyond the limit of its elasticity. It affects more than 5% of the muscular substance, but does not affect its entire transverse extension. At the time of injury, the patient experiences a “pull” accompanied by sudden onset intense local pain.

There is total muscle impotence and muscle function slowly recovers in the following days.

Third degree muscle tear

This is a total tear. It is less frequent than the previous grades, and its initial clinical presentation is very similar to a partial tear. If a bruise forms, it can be a key indicator of muscle tear.

How to treat a muscle tear?

While going to the doctor, to treat a muscle tear properly, it is necessary to continue trying to take into account the following measures.

• As soon as you feel pain, you have to stop the activity that is being carried out, in this way you can prevent the problem from being greater.
• You must rest for a long time so that the problem is not more serious.
• As soon as you feel the discomfort you should try to apply ice or a cold compress.
• It is very important to keep the affected muscle with a bandage.
• Try to elevate the leg or the affected part high with the help of a cushion.
• When the pain is much less, it is advisable to start a rehabilitation program, this should be done with a professional, since the injury can be repeated with great ease.

How can muscle tears be avoided?

• As we have already said, it is very important to warm up well before starting any physical activity, especially if this activity is not done very often.
• When the exercise being carried out is about to end, it is important to lower its speed or intensity, since a tear may occur due to fatigue or muscle exhaustion.
• It is important to be aware of any pain or pulling that can be felt in any part of the body and suspend the activity.
• During exercise it is very important to consume sufficient amounts of hydrating drinks.
• When starting any exercise routine, it is very important to be patient and move forward little by little.
• Healthy eating plays a very important role in this case as in any other, it is a good idea to include enough products that provide fiber to the body, which help keep muscle fibers healthy and strong.

• It must be borne in mind that these injuries must be treated as soon as possible, that is, at the latest, medical assistance should be sought within 48 hours.

It is important to remember that it is necessary to avoid self-medication and natural remedies, as they can be counterproductive. Last but not least: when in doubt it is always best to consult your doctor.