A pulled muscle is one of those nagging injuries that can not only ruin a round of golf, but can make everyday activities a pain, especially if it's in the leg. Your doctor may suggest that you immobilize the area with a brace or splint. Strains injure tendons that link muscles and bones. You should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience signs of a severe groin strain, including: This video has been medically reviewed by Oluseun Olufade, MD. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following serious symptoms: Hearing a pop sound at the time of the injury, Inability to use the muscle (complete loss of muscle function). Dont be afraid to reach out to your provider with questions. A physical therapist can help you to maximize stability and strength of the injured joint or limb. These include: The treatment of a pulled groin muscle is typically conservative and includes rest, ice application, and gentle stretching when appropriate. Bend the knee underneath your torso to lower yourself and stretch the muscles of the inner thigh of the opposite leg. A pulled hip muscle can cause pain and discomfort in the buttocks, hip, thigh, or groin area. General principles of orthopedic injuries. Third Degree. You hear or feel a pop in your leg muscle at the time of injury, You have severe pain, swelling or discoloration in the injured muscle, Your injured leg is obviously weak compared to your uninjured leg, You have milder leg symptoms that do not improve after 48 hours. Policy. A pulled muscle occurs when you tear or overstretch some of the muscle fibers. There are some injuries you shouldn't try to "walk off." American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. If the results of your exam point to Grade I or II muscle strain, you probably will not need any additional testing. Mild injuries usually improve with rest, ice, compression and elevation. You may want to write a list that includes: Your doctor may ask some of the following questions: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. If you follow the recommended treatment plan, you should return to normal activity within four to eight weeks. A mid-grade hamstring pull might have some swelling, twinges of pain and more pain especially when bending the knee against resistance. This is a common injury, especially among athletes and runners. In rare cases, calf muscle tears require surgery. What happens when your immune system attacks your joints? A severe strain can cause. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Most people with a pulled calf muscle report not being able to continue with their activity immediately following the injury. Allowing yourself enough recovery time is critical to your calf muscle treatment. Strains are what happens when some of the thousands of fibers in your muscles are pulled beyond their limit and tear. Flexing or extending the damaged leg could prove difficult, resulting in mobility difficulties. To prevent groin pulls, stretch regularly. Severe strains sometimes require surgical repair. 2nd ed. Stand on your uninjured leg and gently lift your damaged leg to see if your knee feels especially weak or unstable. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. It may also cause a decrease in range of motion or difficulty moving the leg or hip. The more flexible you are, the more room your muscle fibers have to stretch before they begin to tear. There are no shortcuts to healing a pulled groin. William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS. Cheng Y, Yang H, Sun Z, Ni L, Zhang H. Surgical Treatment of Gastrocnemius Muscle Ruptures. A mild calf muscle strain may resolve within in a few days. Alessandrino F, et al. A strain is an acute or chronic soft tissue injury that occurs to a muscle, tendon, or both. Unfortunately, the main causes of rectus femoris strain are fairly common. Keeping your calf muscles strong and conditioned. Symptoms and Grading. Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Accessed April 27, 2018. Theyre painful. Depending on the severity of your injury, it may be several weeks before you can return to full activities. Symptoms Limping/Lameness Swelling with or without bruising Pain at the site of injury Have a guarded demeanor Decreased activity A pulled muscle can be quite painful. Its rare to need prescription medication like muscle relaxers for a muscle strain. Pulling a muscle suddenly usually results in very noticeable and more severe symptoms. Headaches. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Sit with your feet together and knees bent. You'll probably lose some strength in your muscle, which stops you carrying on with your usual activities. It is intended for informational purposes only. Notice swelling in your lower leg, foot or ankle. Muscle strains are common, painful injuries. A pulled groin muscle is usually self-apparent. Sometimes the injury is called tennis leg.. Make a donation. Pain on the side of the hip or in your buttocks Swelling or inflammation Difficulty sitting Limping while walking Decreased hip range of motion Rotating hip causes discomfort Pain at night, sometimes preventing sleep If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential to get an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. If your primary care provider cannot pinpoint the cause, ask for a referral to a sports medicine specialist or an orthopedist who specializes in diseases and disorders of the skeleton and muscles. Stretch your legs apart by gently pushing over your front knee. Check with your provider before resuming any intense activity. While you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery. Proper conditioning is needed to prevent groin strain in athletes. For serious injuries, an MRI can help show possible tissue damage to the muscle. This damage can be acute or chronic and these two scenarios have different causes. 2. While not frequently diagnosed, muscle injuries can cause pain, lameness, and poor performance in horses. Mild muscle strain can cause pain that feels similar to post-workout soreness. Three muscles run down on the back of your leg, from your thigh to your knee the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinosus muscle, and semimembranosus muscle, and help you to bend your knee and extend your hip. Hear from real doctors who treat orthopedic conditions and perform surgery. Take hip strain quiz What makes you more likely to have it? everyday foods can help reduce inflammation and ease joint pain. All rights reserved. A pulled muscle is a type of soft tissue injury called a strain. When diagnosing a pulled leg muscle, a doctor will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms, so be ready to answer questions about when the pain started, what you were doing when the pain started, what helps relieve the pain and how you would describe the pain (twinge, throb or ache). The doctor also will ask about your symptoms, especially any decreased muscle strength or difficulty walking. INGREDIENTS. You can strain muscles anywhere in your body. The exercises help strengthen the adductor muscles, stabilize the pelvis, and strengthen the core muscles of the mid-torso (including the abdominal, oblique, and multifidus back muscles). Strains are what happens when some of the thousands of fibers in your muscles are pulled beyond their limit and tear. Like hamstrings, they are more susceptible to injury during high-velocity sports and sports with contact. Muscle strains and tears are generally graded from less severe (Grade 1) to more severe (Grade 3). If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. Press the knee of the crossed leg across the body to open up the hip. A doctor, personal trainer, or physical therapist can offer recommendations for taking your workouts to the next level when its appropriate. When they contract, they pull our legs inward. A mild to moderate pulled muscle usually responds to home treatment. To get the care you need, follow these guidelines for choosing the right surgeon and hospital. Strains can also involve tendons, which are connective tissue bands that attach muscles to bones. Your doctor may also prescribe stronger pain medications these are only taken temporarily and shouldnt be used more often than as prescribed. Recovery times can be extensive, lasting up to 12 weeks or more. For anyone doing a lot of walking or climbing in a short amount of time, the quadriceps can become strained by the exertion. When it comes to sports, injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. Self-management advice Thigh problems Thigh problems can cause a range of symptoms including: pain swelling bruising In many cases, new pain or a flare-up of long-standing thigh problems should begin to settle within 6 weeks without the need to see a healthcare professional. Sports like sprinting, football, and soccer can easily cause a . Strains may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the injury. Find qualified telemedicine providers for a variety of symptoms and conditions. Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. For some injuries, such as a torn tendon, surgery may be considered. If there is severe pain from a grade 3 injury, a prescription opioid drug like fentanyl or Oxycontin (oxycodone) may be used for a short period to help minimize pain. Tennis leg: gastrocnemius injury is a far more common cause than plantaris rupture. Symptoms include: leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. . For immediate self-care of a muscle strain, try the R.I.C.E. Groin pulls are often experienced by athletes who play ice hockey and soccer because they have to rapidly change directions, often with their legs in a splayed position. 2017 Mar;12(1):120-123. Strain. grade 2 - a partial muscle tear. Follow an exercise program aimed at stretching and strengthening your leg muscles. 10 Things to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis. General principles of orthopedic injuries. 8 Tips for Choosing an Orthopedic Surgeon. Using proper technique when playing sports. Once youve had a pulled calf muscle, you have a higher risk for future strains in that area. 2013 Dec;18(3):10712. Theyre called the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. While you shouldnt resume normal activities until your calf muscle heals, there are some stretches that can complement rest and other treatment measures. A similar injurya sprainaffects ligaments, which hold bones to other bones at a joint. Your dog might whimper in pain when you touch the tender area; this is a sign that something is wrong. Even if you dont play sports or work out often, you can still strain a muscle, especially if you suddenly exert yourself much harder than you usually do. rest, ice, compression, and; elevation. If you start working out or playing sports again before your muscle is healed, youre at an increased risk of re-injuring it and hurting your muscle worse than the original strain. Most Grade I or Grade II strains begin to feel better within a few days. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. What are the signs and symptoms of muscle strain? The usual symptoms of this type of injury include pain, spasms of the muscle, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. They're more common after surgery and among people on bed rest or those who sit for long periods without stretching. While a groin pull may seem obvious, there are certain conditions that can mimic it and require different treatments. Muscle strains can affect anyone. Hernias happen when one of your internal organs or other body parts breaks through the wall of muscle or tissue that normally holds it in place. Other risk factors for pulled calf muscles include: One study estimated that calf strains make up about 1.3% of all lower limb injuries in runners. Quick pivots, jumps or abrupt stops can cause strains. Learn about symptoms and treatment. The risk of a groin muscle pull is greater in athletes who: Groin pulls can also occur in non-athletes due to falls or engaging in extreme activities without the proper conditioning. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from West Virginia University and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. When you have a migraine, you'd try anything to feel better. Review of sport-induced groin injuries.Trauma Mon. How do you know if you pulled a groin muscle? The same is true for a strained muscle and a torn muscle. Other possible symptoms of a hamstring strain are: Sudden and severe pain during exercise, along with a snapping or popping feeling. A dog suffering from one may be more standoffish. Muscle strains happen when you tear a muscle. Find a Qualified Telehealth Provider Now and Connect Live, 10 Tips for Protecting Joints With Psoriatic Arthritis, New Treatments Relieve Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal. How exactly were you moving when the injury occurred? Soft cast or boot to keep your lower leg from moving. Muscle Strains generally hurt and ache too. Orthop J Sports Med. This article describes the symptoms of pulled groin muscle as well as the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery times. Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg. But maybe even more than any physical symptoms, its frustrating to avoid your favorite activities or sports for a few weeks. Minor injuries may only overstretch a muscle or tendon, while more severe injuries may involve partial or complete tears in these tissues. Poor circulation or numbness in the area where the muscle pain is felt. A pulled calf muscle occurs when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. A patient guide to calf injury rehabilitation. Other common symptoms grade 3 - a complete muscle tear. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Then, carefully follow your treatment and recovery plan. A mild strain can leave you with pain and feelings of pulling within the lower half of your leg. The more you work them out and gradually stretch them, the more flexibility and give they have when you move. Fields KB, Rigby MD. Ask your doctor about the following exercises you can try at home during your calf muscle recovery: Once youve had a pulled calf muscle, youre at much greater risk for getting another strain of this type in the future. During the physical exam, your doctor will check for swelling and points of tenderness. Muscle fatigue or weakness from overuse or underuse. You can usually tell if you've pulled a groin muscle because you will feel the pain immediately. Inner-Thigh Stretches to Improve Groin Flexibility, Anatomy and Function of the Vastus Lateralis, Plantaris Muscle Pain: Strains and Tears at the Back of the Leg, Return to sport after criteria-based rehabilitation of acute adductor injuries in male athletes: a prospective cohort study, Comprehensive approach to the evaluation of groin pain, Popping sound or a snapping sensation at the time of the injury, Have weaker hip abductor muscles (the muscles pull the legs apart). Telling the difference can be difficult if you don't know what to look out for. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. Your muscles are the same way. A groin pull is an injury to the muscles of the inner thigh, also known as a groinmuscle strain. Acute muscle strains and pulls happen suddenly when you load a muscle beyond its capacity. Symptoms and Causes What are muscle strain symptoms? As a group, they are known as the hamstring group of muscle. The location and intensity of your pain can help determine the extent and nature of the damage. A variety of arm ailments lead to signs and symptoms similar to those of a pulled muscle in the arm, so it's important to get an accurate diagnosis. The hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups are particularly at risk for muscle strains because they cross both the hip and knee joints. Some of the more common ones are: To help simplify diagnosis and treatment, doctors often classify muscle strains into three different grades, depending on the severity of muscle fiber damage. Some groin pulls can be severe and cause a muscle to completely rupture. Most of the time, these strains involve small tears to the muscles and can usually be treated with rest, gentle stretching, and over-the-counter pain medications. While not necessarily painful, this lump must be treated by a doctor to avoid further muscle injury. DIAGNOSIS Gastrocnemius strains (near the middle of the calf) are more common than soleus strains (the lower calf, closer to the heel). https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that commonly affect the calves and hamstrings. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Strain. Walking on recovering calf muscles can also increase recovery time. Current Sports Medicine Reports. Loosen the wrap if the pain increases, the area becomes numb or swelling is occurring below the wrapped area. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/03/2021. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced. In most cases, symptoms are either totally gone, or very much improved, within 8 to 10 weeks. 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