What Is a Muscle Pull?

A muscle pull is when a tendon and the surrounding muscles are strained. A strain occurs when the muscle and tendon are pulled beyond the range of their normal flexibility, causing small, or possibly large, tears in the muscle. Pulled muscles can be painful and physically debilitating, because muscles will experience reduced strength and pain as the tears heal.

  1. Exercise

    • One of the most common causes of pulled muscles is explosive exercise, in which a muscle is forced to contract powerfully and quickly. Rapid acceleration, such as in sprinting, is a common cause of pulled muscles in the hamstrings (back of the legs) or the calf muscles. Lifting large amounts of weight, especially with improper form, such as by bending at the waist, often causes muscle pulls in the back.

    Other Causes

    • Muscle pulls can also be caused by sudden traumatic events or repetitive use of a muscle. Slipping and falling on ice or being struck with an object may result in a pulled muscle. Performing a repetitive task that is not ergonomically sound is likely to strain the muscles and tendons over time, and the accumulation of stress may result in muscle tearing. All activity that led to a muscle pull should be stopped to promote healing; severe pulls or pulls caused by repetitive stress can result in chronic pain.

    Treatment

    • Treating a muscle pull is similar to treating a joint sprain. The muscle must be rested to prevent further damage from being done, and ice, compression and elevation should be used to limit swelling and inflammation. Pain killers can also be used to help control swelling. The recovery time of a pulled muscle varies significantly depending on the severity of the strain. A minor strain may be fully healed in a week or less, while a major strain can take months to fully heal. Mild or moderate activity can often be safely resumed before a strain is 100 percent healed.

    Prevention

    • Preventing muscle strains is important for athletes to stay healthy and perform at a high level. Warming up and doing mild stretching before a workout can help prevent pulls, though the best time to stretch and increase flexibility is after a workout. Deep stretching, which promotes greater flexibility, will help prevent muscle strains. Activities such as yoga are a good way to build flexibility while getting a total body workout.

    Strength and Fitness

    • Another important factor that influences muscle strains is one's overall level of strength and fitness. In general, the more fit and strong a person is, the less likely he is to strain a muscle. For instance, a strong person would be able to move a TV with ease, without much fear of strain, while a weaker person might strain himself if he tried to move the same TV. The reason strong athletes pull muscles more than sedentary people is because they subject themselves to high levels of physical stress on a daily basis. It is important that athletes build up to new levels of strength and fitness slowly, rather than attempting something too difficult too soon. (Such as attempting to lift a large amount of weight, without working up to it.)