Muscle strain
A muscle strain is a muscle injury in which the muscle fibers are stretched. There is no crack.
During exercise you experience sudden pain that you cannot precisely localize. It seems as if your muscle hurts along its entire length. You have no swelling or bruising. The pain gets worse when you contract your muscle. Light movement is possible but painful.
What is the cause?
A muscle strain occurs when the range of motion is exceeded .
What can you do yourself?
- Cool the body part with cold running water or by placing ice on it. Make sure the ice does not come into immediate contact with the skin. This way you prevent frostbite wounds. Do this four times a day until the injury has healed sufficiently.
- Elevate the affected body part to reduce swelling.
- Apply a pressure bandage if necessary.
- Avoid straining the muscle until the injury has healed sufficiently.
When should you see a doctor?
- If you have a muscle strain, you do not need to go to your doctor immediately.
- See your doctor if the pain does not diminish after two to three days.
- Be sure to see your doctor immediately if you have sensory disturbances or movement restrictions in your toes or fingers.
Avoid straining the muscle until the injury has healed sufficiently.
Elise Rummens
Elise Rummens | prevention doctor CM
Elise is our family doctor. Her hobbyhorse when it comes to health is exercise. That's why you see her jumping, flying, diving, falling and getting up again on Tuesday evenings. Then she has her weekly parkour training.
Avoid straining the muscle until the injury has healed sufficiently.
Elise Rummens
