Physiotherapy for Muscles Strain

What the muscles strain? 

muscle strain is overstretch or may be tear of the muscle fibers its common in hamstring muscles and low back muscles

Causes of muscles strain 

1- Injury or trauma or sport injury 

2- Over use of muscles

3- Muscles weakness

4- Imbalance of movement

5- Over twist of muscles 

6- Sudden movement with high resistance

There are 3 grades of strain :

1- Mild strain : its mild tear of muscle fibers and its take from 1-3 weeks to recovery 

2- Moderate strain : its more that mild and the tear is take more number of fibers and need more than 4 weeks or more to recovery 

3- Sever strain or full rupture : its complete tear of muscles fibers or tendons its not common and its can be recovery by surgery then physical therapy that's may take 6 weeks or more 

Sign and Symptoms

1- Pain 

2- Limitation in rang of motion (ROM)

3- Muscle weakness

4- Swelling 

5- Inability to do actives by effected part

Warning 

Avoid using heat, stretching, and massage 

A- Heat can increase risk of inflammation 

B- Stretching delay heeling and make time more longer for recovery
C- Massage can increase severity of the case and can distributed the inflammation area 

Treatment of muscles strain

Physical therapist have a great experience in muscles strain cases and they can deal with muscle strain 

At first physical therapist plan of treatment is to apply The optimal management is the RICE technique its ( Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation ) for mild and moderate grade of muscles strain
Rest and never use the muscles of effected part at lest 14 week 

Ice to prevent any inflammation and to reduce pain
Compression to keep joint or part as whole from and unwanted movement and reducing swelling by using compression with Elevation the part 

For Sever muscles strain with complete rupture the physical therapist not starting any plain of treatment until the surgery give good result and then applying the same in mild and moderate muscles strain some cases need to use assistive devices like crutches