It's quite common to hear athletes complain of a "pulled muscle," but what exactly does that mean? A pulled muscle usually refers to a strained muscle, which is pain caused by either forcing a...

It’s quite common to hear athletes complain of a “pulled muscle,” but what exactly does that mean? A pulled muscle usually refers to a strained muscle, which is pain caused by either forcing a muscle into an unnatural position or from a direct injury to a muscle. The muscle does not have to be pulled into an unnatural position for a long duration of time for there to be pain and a residual injury, just like an injury directly to the muscle does not have to be particularly devastating in order to cause a muscle strain. Luckily, muscles are usually quite resilient, and therefore most people bounce back quickly from a muscle strain.

Athletes and people who engage in rigorous physical activity are at a great risk for strained muscles because of the demands they make on their body. Any sport or physical activity which requires the body to bend and twist in positions which are contrary to the usual postures dramatically elevates the risk for strained muscles. Another risk factor are sports or physical activities which involve a lot of contact, because this raises the odds that muscles might get hit or pounded on, whether intentionally or unintentionally. You’ll know that you have a strained muscle if your muscle feels painful or much weaker than usual. It’s also common for muscle strains to create spasms within the injured muscle.

It’s a good idea to seek out medical care if you have a painful muscle strain, especially if it interferes with your mobility. Believe it or not, a very serious muscle strain can actually require intensive treatment or even surgery, but this is definitely the exception and not the norm. Usually a doctor will examine the strain and prescribe rest as well as an over the counter pain reliever. If you have a very minor muscle strain then it probably won’t be long before you are right back to your normal physical activities and sports participation. If your muscle strain is more serious, however, you may find yourself in physical therapy as well as being forced to lay off strenuous physical activity for up to a year.

Many sports are breeding grounds for strained muscles, but this does not mean that there aren’t preventative measures you can’t take in order to do your best to avoid this particular sports injury. Since strained muscles are a result of an injury to a muscle, it’s best to keep your muscles in the best possible shape in order to keep them healthy. A healthy muscle momentarily twisted into an unnatural position will bounce back much more quickly than a muscle that is usually inactive and underused. Regular exercise, resistance training, and working with weights can help keep your muscles in the best shape possible. You also need to know your limitations. Even though you may be a great athlete, your muscles are not infallible. If an activity you’re engaged in makes you feel as though you are putting your muscles at risk, then stop.

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