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Strains

A muscle strain injury can occur in any activity or sport...

such as during powerful eccentric muscle actions resulting in tearing of the muscle or tendon (tendon - a fibrous cord of tissue that connects the muscle to a bone) [1-4].

 

The main purpose of a physical examination is to determine the location and severity of the injury - assisted by earlier findings e.g. history, signs, symptoms and mechanism of injury (1).  The severity of a muscle strain are commonly classified according to the amount of pain, weakness, and loss of motion, resulting in grades of I (mild), II (moderate), or III (severe)  [5-6].

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It is recommend that a comprehensive range of specific tests / measures (e.g. strength, range of motion (ROM), differential diagnostic tests, palpation, pain) be used during the examination process, at the very least to serve as a baseline from which progress can be monitored following a muscle strain injury [5].

It is imperative that effective early diagnosis and subsequent management for this injury is applied correctly within accordance to evidence based principles. Although MRI is frequently recommended in more severe cases of a muscle strain (such as a hamstring strain) accurate and reliable diagnosis, minor to moderate grade strain injuries can be accurately be diagnosed by using an effective clinical assessment with sound clinical reasoning – with determent or delay to recovery. Thus, MRI should be confined to more severe grade strain injuries (e.g. hamstring strains) to identify potential avulsions and undiagnosed pain.

Muscle strain - hamstring injury

         His knowledge of anatomy was incredible. ...The pain I experienced disappeared almost instantly after I left the treatment room and has been a lot better since... Thanks Nick!

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        Three visits to Nick in 3 weeks and to my amazement not only did I make the start line but I ran the 26 miles, non-stop in under 4 hours, without any problems with my calf muscle..

This approach will establish and adopt greater understanding within current practices and thus give the athlete / patient the highest quality and safest optimum care throughout the healing process of rehabilitation.

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Body Fact - Muscle lesion

Sports Health (2013) Jul, 5(4):346-52

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References

  1. Stanton, P. E. (1989) Hamstring injuries in sprinting – the role of eccentric exercise. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 10, 343-9.

  2. Hoskins W., Pollard H. (2005b) Hamstring injury management – part 2: Treatment. Manual Therapy, 10, 180-190.

  3. Woods, C., Hawkins, R. D., Maltby, S., Hulse, M., Thomas, A. And Hodson, A. (2004) Football Association Medical Research Programme. The Football Association Medical Research Programme: An audit of injuries in professional football – analysis of hamstring injuries. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 38 (1), 36-41.

  4. Yamamoto, T. (1993) Relationship between hamstring strains and leg muscle strength. A follow up study of collegiate track and field athletes. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 33 (2), 194-199

  5. Heiderscheit B.C., Sherry M.A., Silder A., Chumanov E.S., & Thelen D.G. (2010). Hamstring for diagnosis strain injuries: Recommendations, injury rehabilitation and prevention. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 40(2); 67-81.

  6. Hoskins W., Pollard H. (2005b) Hamstring injury management – part 2: Treatment.

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