Muscle Strain Physiotherapy Treatment | Arunalaya post thumbnail image

Best Muscle Strain Treatment in Delhi

Muscle strain treatment and cure
Book Appointment

What is Muscle Strain ?

A muscle strain, commonly known as a “pulled muscle,” occurs when muscle fibers are overstretched or torn. This can range from microscopic tears to a complete rupture of the muscle or its tendon.

Causes of Muscle Strain

Muscle strains typically result from sudden, forceful movements or overexertion. Common causes include:-

  • Overstretching: When a muscle is stretched beyond its normal capacity, such as during a sudden lunge or reaching for something.
  • Forceful Contraction: A sudden, powerful contraction of a muscle, like during sprinting, jumping, or heavy lifting.
  • Inadequate Warm-Up: Muscles that are not properly warmed up are less elastic and more prone to injury.
  • Fatigue: Tired muscles are less able to absorb shock and maintain proper form, increasing strain risk.
  • Poor Conditioning/Weakness: Muscles that are weak  and are more susceptible to injury.
  • Muscle Imbalances: When one muscle group is significantly stronger or tighter than its opposing group (e.g., strong quadriceps but weak hamstrings).
  • Repetitive Motions: Repeated stress on a muscle without adequate rest can lead to cumulative microtrauma and eventually a strain.
  • Direct Trauma: A direct blow to a muscle can cause contusion and potential strain.
  • Previous Injury: A history of muscle strains makes the area more vulnerable to re-injury.
Grades of Muscle Strain
  • Muscle strains are classified into three grades based on severity:
    • Grade I (Mild): The muscle is overstretched with only a few muscle fibers torn. There is mild pain, tenderness, and slight stiffness, but strength and range of motion are minimally affected. Recovery typically takes a few weeks.
    • Grade II (Moderate): Involves a partial tear of muscle fibers. Symptoms include more significant pain, swelling, tenderness, noticeable weakness, and reduced range of motion. Muscle spasms are common. Recovery can take several weeks to months.
    • Grade III (Severe): A complete rupture or tear of the muscle or its tendon. This causes severe pain, significant swelling and bruising, a palpable gap or “dent” in the muscle, and a near-complete loss of function. Surgery may be required for repair, and recovery can take several months.
Symptoms of Muscle Strain
  • The symptoms vary depending on the grade of the strain:-
    • Sudden, Sharp Pain: Often felt at the moment of injury, sometimes described as a “pop” or “snap” (especially with Grade III).
    • Localized Tenderness: Pain when touching the affected muscle.
    • Swelling and Bruising: Develops quickly, especially with moderate to severe strains, indicating bleeding within the muscle.
    • Muscle Spasm: The injured muscle may involuntarily contract and feel tight.
    • Stiffness: Difficulty moving the affected limb or joint.
    • Weakness: Reduced strength in the injured muscle.
    • Limited Range of Motion: Pain and muscle guarding make it difficult to move the affected area fully.
    • Visible Deformity: In Grade III tears, a visible gap or bulge may be present where the muscle has torn.
    • Difficulty with Weight-Bearing or Movement: Depending on the location (e.g., hamstring, calf), walking or performing daily activities may be painful or impossible.
Advanced Physiotherapy for Muscle Strain

Phases of Rehabilitation and Advanced Techniques:-

 

  • Phase 1: Acute/Protection Phase (Typically 0-7 days)
    • Goals: Reduce pain, control swelling, protect the injured tissue, and prevent further damage.
  • Interventions:
    • POLICE Protocol: Protection (e.g., crutches, sling, brace to offload the injured muscle), Optimal Loading (early, pain-free movement to promote healing without re-injury), Ice (cryotherapy to reduce inflammation and pain), Compression (elastic bandage to minimize swelling), Elevation (to reduce swelling).
    • Gentle Passive/Active-Assisted Range of Motion (ROM): Moving the affected limb through pain-free ranges to prevent stiffness and promote fluid circulation.
    • Isometric Exercises: Very gentle muscle contractions without movement (e.g., holding a contraction against resistance without joint movement) to maintain muscle activation and prevent atrophy, without stressing the healing fibers.
    •  Electrotherapy: Modalities like TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) for pain relief, or Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) to stimulate cellular healing.

 

  • Phase 2: Subacute/Repair Phase (Typically 1-4 weeks)
    • Goals: Restore full pain-free range of motion, begin gentle strengthening, promote scar tissue remodeling.
  • Interventions:

Progressive Active Range of Motion (AROM) and Stretching: Gradually increasing the range of movement, incorporating gentle static and dynamic stretches for the injured muscle and surrounding joints.

  • Light Resistance Exercises:
    • Isotonic Exercises: Controlled movements with light resistance (e.g., bodyweight exercises, light resistance bands). Focus on full, pain-free range.
    • Eccentric Loading (Gentle): Introducing very controlled eccentric contractions (muscle lengthening under load) at low intensity. This is crucial for scar tissue alignment and strength but must be carefully monitored.
  • Manual Therapy:
    • Soft Tissue Mobilization/Deep Transverse Friction Massage: Once the initial acute pain subsides, specific massage techniques applied directly to the healing site to break down adhesions, promote collagen alignment in the scar tissue, improve blood flow, and reduce pain.
    • Myofascial Release: Techniques to release tightness in the fascia surrounding the injured muscle and compensatory muscle groups.
    • Dry Needling: Highly effective for persistent muscle tightness or trigger points that often accompany muscle strains. Insertion of thin needles into hyperirritable muscle bands (“knots”) helps to elicit a “local twitch response,” reducing muscle tension, pain, and improving blood flow. This technique helps to “reset” dysfunctional muscle fibers.
  • Therapeutic Taping (Kinesiology Taping): Can be used to:
    • Reduce Swelling: By lifting the skin and facilitating lymphatic drainage.
    • Provide Support and Stability: Without restricting movement.
    • Facilitate Muscle Activation: By providing proprioceptive feedback to weakened muscles.
    • Inhibit Overactive Muscles: To reduce tension in compensatory muscles.
  • Phase 3: Remodeling/Strength and Endurance Phase (Typically 4-12 weeks)
    • Goals: Maximize strength, endurance, power, and neuromuscular control; prepare for functional activities.
  • Interventions:
    • Progressive Resistance Training: Increasing intensity, repetitions, and type of resistance (free weights, machines).
    • Eccentric Strengthening: More advanced eccentric exercises, as they are key for building resilience and preventing re-injury (e.g., controlled lowering phases in squats, lunges, hamstring curls).
    • Plyometric Exercises: (For Grade II/III, once strength is adequate) Controlled jumping, hopping, and bounding drills to improve power and shock absorption, gradually introduced.
    • Proprioception and Balance Training: Exercises on unstable surfaces (wobble boards, foam pads) to improve joint position sense and dynamic stability, reducing re-injury risk.
    • Functional Training: Mimicking sport-specific or daily activity movements (e.g., cutting drills, agility drills, lifting techniques).
    • Manual Therapy (continued): As needed for ongoing stiffness, scar tissue restrictions, or trigger points.
  • Phase 4: Return to Sport/Activity Phase (Highly variable, 12+ weeks for severe strains)
    • Goals: Gradual and safe return to full activity levels without re-injury.
  • Interventions:
    • Sport-Specific Drills: Progressing from low-intensity to high-intensity drills that replicate the demands of the sport (e.g., accelerating, decelerating, pivoting, throwing).
    • Graded Exposure: Gradually increasing the duration, intensity, and complexity of activity.
    • Warm-up and Cool-down Education: Emphasizing proper routines.
    • Prevention Strategies: Education on strength maintenance, flexibility, proper biomechanics, and recognizing signs of fatigue.
    • Rigid Taping/Bracing: May be used for temporary support and confidence during the initial return to high-demand activities.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Working Hours

Mon - Sat: 9:00AM to 8:30PM
Sunday: 9:30AM to 7:30PM

Call Us

+91 8090080906
+91 8090080907
+91 8866991000




    Add Your Heading Text Here

    Want to be a physical therapist ? Check Physioneeds Academy