Squat to the ground with one leg in front of your body. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Fields KB, Rigby MD. Muscles strains and hernias can both be caused by overuse, but theyre different injuries. Headaches. Athletes may also experience immediate swelling or bruising, limited mobility, or inability to bear weight on the injured leg. To confirm a diagnosis, the doctor will examine you. Learn about symptoms and treatment. A pulled calf muscle happens when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/03/2021. Seek immediate medical care if you sustain a traumatic arm injury or if you experience any warning signs and symptoms, including: Arm or hand numbness or tingling. General principles of orthopedic injuries. Rest the injured muscle (take a temporary break from sports activities). To prevent groin pulls, stretch regularly. Its similar to how certain fabrics have more give than others. Most athletes know what the injury is the moment it occurs. Severe or rapidly worsening pain. Compress the muscle with an elastic bandage. The doctor also will ask about your symptoms, especially any decreased muscle strength or difficulty walking. The groin muscles are called the adductor muscles. Does a blood clot in leg hurt all the time? What types of home treatments have you tried? With a minor tear you may be able to continue activities or sport with minimal restriction. While most cases of calf pain can be treated at home, sometimes they may require immediate medical attention. A pulled calf muscle occurs when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. Along with pain, the most common symptoms of a pulled muscle are: Bruising Limited range of motion Muscle cramping or spasms Muscle weakness Swelling Symptoms that might indicate a more serious condition A pulled muscle can be serious in some cases, possibly involving a torn muscle or tendon. A pulled calf muscle occurs when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. Strains are what happens when some of the thousands of fibers in your muscles are pulled beyond their limit and tear. You may feel a blood clot moving in your leg if you start to get sudden chest pains and shortness of breath. Find a Qualified Telehealth Provider Now and Connect Live, 10 Tips for Protecting Joints With Psoriatic Arthritis, New Treatments Relieve Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal. 9th ed. Symptoms and Causes What are muscle strain symptoms? Read our. Compression is especially important to try to minimize swelling and bleeding into the muscle. Its a common injury with athletes that do a lot of stop-and-go movements, but it can also affect older, active individuals. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Most commonly, gluteus muscle injuries heal with time and no further treatment. If you start working out or playing sports again before your muscle is healed, youre at an increased risk of re-injuring it and hurting your muscle worse than the original strain. Severe strains sometimes require surgical repair. There are three basic muscles that make up the hamstring in the back of the thigh. Most Grade I or Grade II strains begin to feel better within a few days. Quick pivots, jumps or abrupt stops can cause strains. A more serious pull or tear will show swelling almost immediately. rest, ice, compression, and; elevation. Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changesCole Eye entrance closingVisitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Notice of Intelligent Business Solutions data eventLearn more. Return to sport after criteria-based rehabilitation of acute adductor injuries in male athletes: a prospective cohort study. Pulled Hamstring Treatment. Your favorite pair of jeans have plenty of flexibility to them because youve stretched them out over years. Massaging your ankle after a sprain may help reduce pain and swelling, but you also want to be careful. Sprains and strains. Comprehensive approach to the evaluation of groin pain. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. A similar injurya sprainaffects ligaments, which hold bones to other bones at a joint. Shin splints & stress fractures occur due to repetitive sports, like running. Muscles strains are caused by tears in the fibers of your muscles. Your doctor may suggest that you immobilize the area with a brace or splint. After surgery to repair a Grade III strain, most people regain normal leg muscle function after several months of rehabilitation. The following symptoms often accompany a muscle tear: Limping. Theyre one of the most common injuries, especially among athletes. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Recovery involves an extended period of rest followed by physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles and ensure stability. You may feel a pop, usually at the back of the thigh, when the muscle tears. While not frequently diagnosed, muscle injuries can cause pain, lameness, and poor performance in horses. Sharp pain at the back of your knee can affect walking and cause discomfort when standing or walking up stairs. If there is severe pain from a grade 3 injury, a prescription opioid drug like fentanyl or Oxycontin (oxycodone) may be used for a short period to help minimize pain. Allowing yourself enough recovery time is critical to your calf muscle treatment. Talk to your provider about which activities you should avoid while youre recovering. In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. Keeping your calf muscles strong and conditioned. For golfers, you might notice a calf pull just walking the course. You may need imaging exams to determine if there are any partial or complete tears in your calf muscles. Muscle strains are common, painful injuries. When they contract, they pull our legs inward. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Check with your provider before resuming any intense activity. Make sure to warm up before exercising or playing sports, and give your body time to rest and recover after intense activity. Your doctor may also prescribe stronger pain medications these are only taken temporarily and shouldnt be used more often than as prescribed. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. doi:10.5812/traumamon.12666, Serner A, Weir A, Tol JL, et al. If you have to have surgery for a severe pull in your calf muscle, it may take several weeks or months before you fully recover. Suffers will also experience a mild decrease in strength with the affected muscle. Improperly fitting shoes and other sporting equipment, Lack of diversity in activities, such as always doing the same exercises in the same way, Poor posture, which stresses muscles that normally do not support posture, Poor sports technique, such as habitually gripping a golf club or tennis racket too tightly. Just because an injury is common doesnt mean your situation isnt unique. everyday foods can help reduce inflammation and ease joint pain. Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Wearing supportive footwear that fits properly. This places excessive strain on the adductor muscles. A burning/stabbing sensation. Veterinarians can use thermography to aid in diagnosis, along with palpation, ultrasound . So, if you go into a quick sprint of movement where your hip and thigh muscles are engaged, it has the potential for rectus femoris strain. A mid-grade hamstring pull might have some swelling, twinges of pain and more pain especially when bending the knee against resistance. Most people can recover by resting their muscle and using at-home treatments like ice and over-the-counter medicine. Pain usually increases when you move the muscle, but it is relieved by rest. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. You can usually tell if you've pulled a groin muscle because you will feel the pain immediately. Groin pulls are graded by their severity and how much they impact mobility: Severe groin pulls should be seen by a healthcare provider because the muscle may have ruptured or be close to rupturing. Bleeding in or around your strained muscle. This includes RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Naprosyn). Other risk factors for pulled calf muscles include: One study estimated that calf strains make up about 1.3% of all lower limb injuries in runners. In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have symptoms of a severe muscle strain or tear including severe, disabling pain. By Jonathan Cluett, MD A mild to moderate pulled muscle usually responds to home treatment. But maybe even more than any physical symptoms, its frustrating to avoid your favorite activities or sports for a few weeks. In rare cases, calf muscle tears require surgery. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Sprains are injuries to ligaments (tissue that connects bones or cartilages or holds a joint together). Alessandrino F, et al. 8 Tips for Choosing an Orthopedic Surgeon. Participating in contact sports such as soccer, football, hockey, boxing and wrestling can increase your risk of muscle strains. Earn 16 Rewards Points. Are there any activities I should avoid while Im recovering? People might also experience visible bruising if surrounding blood vessels are damaged. Accessed April 27, 2018. Regeneration of Skeletal Muscle After Eccentric Injury. Spasms. Also called calf muscle strains, this injury can involve mild overstretching or complete tearing of the muscle. They can be caused by fatigue or overuse. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. There may also be a popping sound or snapping sensation. Mild to moderate muscle pulls typically heal without complications. Crutches may be needed. Some of the most common include: Hamstring. Bite marks in the area of soreness. When you have a migraine, you'd try anything to feel better. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Make sure to follow your doctors recommendations and let yourself rest to prevent any further injury. Help Millions of people find the right doctor and care they need, Get immediate care and visit with providers from the comfort of your home, or anywhere, Urgent care centers can be faster and cheaper for situations that are not life threatening, Doctors and patients discuss the latest medical treatments and health tips, Search prescription drugs for why theyre used, side effects and more, Sign up for our free "Healthy Living News", Back and Neck Surgery (Except Spinal Fusion), View All Bones, Joints and Muscles Articles, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hamstring-muscle-injuries/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-strains/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/muscle-strains-in-the-thigh/, https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/. You know you should stay off it for a while. Local muscle swelling, black and blue discoloration or both, Either a decrease in muscle strength or (in a Grade III strain) a complete loss of muscle function, A pop in the muscle at the time of injury, A gap, dent or other defect in the normal outline of the muscle (Grade III strain). When a strain occurs, muscle fibers are torn to some degree. If there is pain, you are overdoing it and need to ease back. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Paralysis generally . There are no shortcuts to healing a pulled groin. Physical therapy is almost invariably a part of the treatment plan. Muscle fatigue or weakness from overuse or underuse. Muscle spasms in the thigh or groin areathe muscle suddenly tightens. 2nd ed. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. What is the fastest way to heal a pulled groin muscle? Leg, calf and thigh pain are symptoms of conditions that may involve the muscles, nerves, and more. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. Without proper treatment and adequate recovery, serious muscle strains can cause permanent damage and limited range of motion. Difficulty in moving the affected limb. You use crutches or an assistive device to move around. DOI: Parker G, et al. Policy. Strains may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the injury. Symptoms and Signs of Blood Clot in Leg Stand on your uninjured leg and gently lift your damaged leg to see if your knee feels especially weak or unstable. Sprinters, football players, soccer players and tennis players are prone to pulled calf muscles. If youre feeling pain for a few weeks after your injury or have severe symptoms, see your healthcare provider. Three muscles run down on the back of your leg, from your thigh to your knee the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinosus muscle, and semimembranosus muscle, and help you to bend your knee and extend your hip. A torn calf muscle may require surgery. Like hamstrings, they are more susceptible to injury during high-velocity sports and sports with contact. In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. Its important to work your way up to more intense exercises gradually. This occurs when your calf muscle protrudes underneath your skin, creating a visible bump. Unfortunately, the main causes of rectus femoris strain are fairly common. People use the terms interchangeably. Once youve had a pulled calf muscle, you have a higher risk for future strains in that area. Using proper technique when playing sports. Similar stretches after a round of golf are advised to loosen up any muscles that might have tightened during play. Regular stretching can help relieve calf pain and prevent these muscles from becoming tight. Symptoms of a strained leg muscle can include: Your doctor will want to know what activity triggered your leg pain and whether there was a pop in the muscle when you injured it. You may feel the blood clot pain is constant, and if you have any of these serious DVT symptoms, you must call a doctor immediately. Leg Swelling Pain is another warning sign of a DVT blood clot. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Muscle strains can affect anyone. Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape. But golfers can pull a hamstring, too. Press the knee of the crossed leg across the body to open up the hip. You will probably notice pain and swelling,. But there are a few things you should avoid doing. Anyone can get a pulled calf muscle. A grade three muscle strain is a full tear of your muscle (all the way through it). NSAIDs help reduce swelling and relieve pain and soreness. A patient guide to calf injury rehabilitation. Jonathan Cluett, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. A knot-like feeling. 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