Muscle Strain

What is a Muscle Strain?

A muscle strain occurs when muscle fibers are overstretched or torn. Severity ranges from mild overstretching (Grade I) to complete tears (Grade III). They’re most common in explosive sports movements like sprinting, cutting, or jumping.

Common Symptoms

• Sudden sharp pain during activity

• Swelling or bruising (in moderate to severe cases)

• Tenderness over the muscle

• Weakness or difficulty using the affected muscle

• Inability to continue activity at the time of injury (often in hamstring strains)

Physical Therapist Diagnosis

A PT takes a detailed history of the injury mechanism, palpates the muscle for tenderness, and tests strength and flexibility. Special functional testing (hopping, running, resisted contraction) helps determine severity and readiness for return to play.

Why it Happens

Muscle strains occur from sudden overload, fatigue, poor warm-up, or imbalances between strength and flexibility. Hamstrings are especially prone due to their role in sprinting.

Why it Doesn’t Always Heal on Its Own

Mild strains may improve with rest, but without rehab, scar tissue and weakness can persist, increasing risk of re-injury.

Ideal Physical Therapy Treatment

Rehab focuses on pain reduction, restoring motion, and progressive strengthening. Dry needling can accelerate recovery by reducing spasm and improving blood flow and healing.

Key strategies include:

• Manual therapy for soft tissue mobility

• Dry needling to release tension and promote healing

• Progressive strengthening starting with isometrics, advancing to eccentrics and plyometrics

• Flexibility and mobility training

• Sport-specific retraining (sprinting, cutting, jumping)

Expected Outcomes

Recovery time depends on severity: Grade I strains may resolve in 1–3 weeks, Grade II in 4–8 weeks, and Grade III may require surgical consultation. Structured rehab helps reduce the risk of reinjury, which is a common occurrence when dealing with muscle strains.