Muscle strains are common and occur when exertional forces on a muscle exceed its capacity, consequently injuring the tissue and resulting in symptoms such as pain, loss of range of motion, loss of strength, and bruising/swelling. Strains are commonly seen in the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves as they can be placed under significant tension.
Muscle strains can be classified as follows:
Grade 1 – mild strain with local pain but minimal loss of strength
Grade 2 – moderate strain with local pain, swelling, and loss of strength
Grade 3 – severe, complete tear of muscle fibres
In the following days after your injury, our focus is on minimising pain and inflammation and allowing the muscle fibres the optimal environment for them to heal. To facilitate this your physiotherapist may discuss with you self-management strategies such as ice, compression, elevation, and gentle movement as pain allows. As recovery progress and depending on the severity of your injury, the focus of treatment shifts to sport/function specific rehabilitation where we will tailor an exercise program to your functional demands and goals with the aim to return you to your previous level of function.
If you would like to learn more about our services, or have some questions regarding our treatment options in our Mount Lawley clinic, feel free to give us a call.
You can reach us at (08) 9271 8805 and one of our friendly team members will be happy to answer your questions.
