Muscle tension

Muscle tension

Description of the Strain muscle

Muscle tension, muscle pull or even a muscle tear refers to damage to a muscle or tendons that become attached. You can put excessive pressure on the muscles during normal daily activities, with lifting heavy objects suddenly during a sports activity or while performing work tasks.

Muscle damage can be in the form of tearing (or all) of the muscle fibers and tendons attached to the muscle. Muscle Tear can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding or bruising and pain caused by irritation of nerve endings in the area.

                       

Symptoms of muscle fatigue

Symptoms include muscle tension:

Swelling, bruising or redness due to injury

Pain at rest

When specific muscle pain or joint compared with used with this muscle

Muscle weakness or tendons

Impossibility to use the muscle at all

When to consult a doctor

If you have a significant muscle injury (or if home remedies do not relieve within 24 hours), call your doctor.

If you hear an audible "pop" with the wound, it can not walk, or there is significant swelling, pain, fever or open sores should be examined in the emergency department of the hospital.

Examinations and tests

The doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. When examining, it is important to determine whether the muscle is partially or completely broken, which can involve a much more healing process, surgery and more complicated recovery possible.

X-rays or laboratory tests are often not necessary unless there is a history of trauma or signs of infection.

Treatment of Muscle Tension at Home

The amount of local swelling or bleeding in the muscle (burst blood vessels) can best manage early by applying ice packs and keeping the muscle tight in a stretched position. Heat can be applied when the inflammation has decreased. However, early application of heat may increase swelling and pain.

Note: Ice or heat should not be applied to bare skin. Always use a protective cover such as a towel between the ice or heat and skin.

Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce pain and improve your ability to move. Do not take if you have NSAID kidney disease or a history of gastrointestinal hemorrhage or if you also take a blood thinner such as Coumadin without first talking to your doctor. In this case, it is safer to take acetaminophen, which helps to reduce pain, but does not reduce inflammation.

Protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation (the so-called price formula) can help the affected muscle. Here's how: First, remove all constrictive clothing, including jewelry, in the area of ​​muscle tension. Then:

Protect the tight muscle against other injuries.

Rest the tense muscle. Avoid activities that have caused tensions and other activities that are painful.

Muscular zone of ice (20 minutes every hour during the day before). Ice is a very effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Small ice blocks, such as frozen or frozen packs of frozen vegetables in the foam coffee cups applied to the area can help reduce inflammation.

Compression can be gently applied with an Ace or other elastic bandage, which can provide support and reduce swelling. Do not wrap well.

Raise the wound area to reduce swelling. For example, lift a muscle of the leg tight while sitting.

Activities that increase muscle pain or work in the affected part of the body are not recommended until the pain has significantly improved.

Medical treatment

Medical treatment is similar to a treatment at home. The physician, however, can also determine the extent of muscle and tendon injuries and whether crutches or splint is needed for healing. The doctor can also determine if you need to restrict your activity or take days off and if rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy are needed to help you recover.