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. But your muscle needs to heal, and giving it that time is the best way to make sure youll be able to get back to what you love as soon as its safe. 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: A pulled muscle can be serious in some cases, possibly involving a torn muscle or tendon. Find qualified telemedicine providers for a variety of symptoms and conditions. Should the gluteal injury be due to a direct blow or fall, resulting in a contusion, treatment aims to decrease the inflammation in the area. 9th ed. Ask your healthcare provider when you can gradually start to do light activities again. The adductor muscles pull the legs together. People most likely to have pulled or strained hamstrings are sprinters, football players and other athletes in high-speed sports. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Hamstrings are long muscles that extend down the back of the thigh. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can be helpful for pain relief during this time period. Anyone can experience a hip strain just doing everyday tasks, but strains most often . 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. Wearing supportive footwear that fits properly. Dull, sharp, and/or achy pain in the neck. Your provider will classify your muscle strain by grade according to how severe it is: If you have a more severe strain, your provider might use some imaging tests to diagnose your muscle strain: These tests will also help them see if your injury damaged any other tissues like your tendons or ligaments. When it comes to sports, injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. Quadriceps strain. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. Hip Strains. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Pulled hip muscles usually feel like an intense burning or aching sensation, which can become worse with movement. Accessed April 27, 2018. A hamstring injury is a strain or tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thigh. Symptoms include: leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. Injuries, blood clots, and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis may cause leg pain. Your dog might whimper in pain when you touch the tender area; this is a sign that something is wrong. "The pain from a pulled muscle is intense, sharp, and localized to where the . He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. This occurs when your calf muscle protrudes underneath your skin, creating a visible bump. Make a donation. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Most people can recover by resting their muscle and using at-home treatments like ice and over-the-counter medicine. Restlessness and trouble getting comfortable. Early symptoms of paralytic polio include high fever, headache, stiffness in the back and neck, asymmetrical weakness of various muscles, sensitivity to touch, difficulty swallowing, muscle pain, loss of superficial and deep reflexes, paresthesia (pins and needles), irritability, constipation, or difficulty urinating. Sprains, Strains, and Other Soft Tissue Injuries. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. The doctor will also feel the affected area, checking for swelling, tenderness and the pain centers. 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/. One exception is a Grade III plantaris strain, which usually is treated without surgery. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Loosen the wrap if the pain increases, the area becomes numb or swelling is occurring below the wrapped area. It's a common injury in athletes and can happen in different severities. Increasing your overall flexibility will also protect your muscles from future injuries. Your doctor can begin or change your treatment to help you manage depression. Keeping your calf muscles strong and conditioned. Make sure to follow your doctors recommendations and let yourself rest to prevent any further injury. Snapping or popping sensation in your calf. A pulled muscle happens when you overstretch, stress, twist or tear the muscle. When they contract, they pull our legs inward. Prompt treatment is important for your overall recovery. Most calf strains heal with rest, ice, compression and elevation. Be careful not to overstretch them because that is an easy way to pull those muscles before you begin to play. Massaging your ankle after a sprain may help reduce pain and swelling, but you also want to be careful. Pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock when walking . Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Do not bounce. Sprinters, football players, soccer players and tennis players are prone to pulled calf muscles. Chronic strains tend to have vague symptoms that are easy to overlook at first. Over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) are commonly prescribed. If youre still feeling pain after a few weeks of at-home treatments, talk to your provider. Accessed April 27, 2018. Mild injuries usually improve with rest, ice, compression and elevation. Mild muscle strain can cause pain that feels similar to post-workout soreness. Current Sports Medicine Reports. Comprehensive approach to the evaluation of groin pain. Bleeding in or around your strained muscle. Radiology Case Reports. You can treat most muscle strains with at-home methods of first aid, including: Its rare to need surgery for a muscle strain. (2009). Also called calf muscle strains, this injury can involve mild overstretching or complete tearing of the muscle. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/, National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) Your muscles are made of thousands of small fibers woven together. Feel the stretch along your inner thigh. Here are 14 foods and supplements to help you recover from an injury more. Severe or rapidly worsening pain. Most muscle strains heal in a few weeks with at-home treatments. Most groin pulls are relatively minor and have simply pulled a muscle beyond its normal range of motion, causing incidental tears. A pulled calf muscle happens when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. But golfers can pull a hamstring, too. [1] Generally, the muscle or tendon overstretches and partially tears, under more physical stress than it can withstand, often from a sudden increase in duration, intensity, or frequency of an activity. Dont be afraid to reach out to your provider with questions. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. A severely pulled calf muscle can result in partial or complete tears. A severe strain can limit your ability to move your hip. You may also want to include exercises that strengthen your adductor, pelvic, and core muscles. (https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/). The more flexible you are, the more room your muscle fibers have to stretch before they begin to tear. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. How long your strain lasts depends on which muscle you injured and how badly it was strained. Your doctor will also look for signs such as swelling and bruising. A hip flexor strain occurs when one or more of the hip flexor muscles becomes stretched or torn. The usual symptoms of this type of injury include pain, spasms of the muscle, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. More severe cases may require surgery or physical therapy. A dog suffering from one may be more standoffish. Safran MR, et al. This eventually causes wear and tear on the muscle leading to a strain. A grade three muscle strain is a full tear of your muscle (all the way through it). Take hip strain quiz What makes you more likely to have it? Inner-Thigh Stretches to Improve Groin Flexibility, Anatomy and Function of the Vastus Lateralis, Plantaris Muscle Pain: Strains and Tears at the Back of the Leg, Return to sport after criteria-based rehabilitation of acute adductor injuries in male athletes: a prospective cohort study, Comprehensive approach to the evaluation of groin pain, Popping sound or a snapping sensation at the time of the injury, Have weaker hip abductor muscles (the muscles pull the legs apart). Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Alessandrino F, et al. This can result in a pulled muscle in the back. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). A torn calf muscle may require surgery. Hip Flexor Injury Symptoms. Information about medical problems you've had, Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings, All the medications and dietary supplements you take. The outlook depends on the location and severity of the muscle strain. DOI: Parker G, et al. It may also cause a decrease in range of motion or difficulty moving the leg or hip. Theyre painful. These tears have to be repaired with surgery. (2013). Reduce your risk of reinjury by allowing your injury to fully heal before getting back to normal activities. Sharp pain at the back of your knee can affect walking and cause discomfort when standing or walking up stairs. Examples of causes include: Several factors increase the risk of pulling a muscle, including: Muscle imbalance, which causes one group of muscles to overcompensate for another group. Theyre the same injury with the same symptoms and treatments. Like hamstrings, they are more susceptible to injury during high-velocity sports and sports with contact. Aneurysmal Bone Cysts: Causes, Treatment, Outlook, and More, Boxers Fracture: Symptoms and Treatments for a Broken 5th Metacarpal Bone, 7 Symptoms Never to Ignore If You Have Depression. A rubber donut may be used to decrease the pain of sitting on a swollen buttock. Follow an exercise program aimed at stretching and strengthening your leg muscles. Allow your opposite leg to extend behind you.. Unwillingness to be petted or picked up. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. Symptoms and Causes What are muscle strain symptoms? Sedaghati P, Alizadeh MH, Shirzad E, Ardjmand A. Muscle strain injuries are graded by severity: 1. A regular physical examination will reveal the location of the issue. You can strain muscles anywhere in your body. The symptoms of a pulled muscle range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the injury. swelling in the affected leg. Other signs of a pulled calf muscle include: mild swelling redness bruising inability to stand up on the ball of your foot A severe pull in your calf muscles can leave you with feelings of. Hernias usually dont get better on their own, and youll probably need surgery to repair one. Most Grade I or Grade II strains begin to feel better within a few days. To prevent groin pulls, stretch regularly. Theres also a risk for a recurring calf muscle strain within one to two weeks of the initial injury. Once your healthcare provider diagnoses your injury, they may recommend additional treatments such as: Complete calf muscle tears usually require surgery. Muscle Strains generally hurt and ache too. Sometimes the injury is called tennis leg.. Its common to injure both types of tissue during a strain. A variety of arm ailments lead to signs and symptoms similar to those of a pulled muscle in the arm, so it's important to get an accurate diagnosis. A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. Learn about symptoms and treatment. Overcompensation is overworking and straining the muscle. A sudden sharp pain in the lower leg. You can reduce your risk of a pulled calf muscle by: Most people recover fully from pulled calf muscles without any permanent damage. Recovery after surgery can take up to six months. Soft cast or boot to keep your lower leg from moving. 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. A pulled calf muscle happens when your internal muscles are overstretched from exercise. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If you have a Grade III strain in your leg, the torn muscle may need to be repaired surgically by an orthopedic specialist. Swelling that wont go away or is getting worse. If you have a physically demanding occupation, regular conditioning can help prevent injuries. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. They help you flex and bend your foot, ankle and knee. Oluseun Olufade, MD, is a board-certified orthopedist. Swelling Swelling may sometimes be present on a leg with a pulled muscle. After surgery, you may wear a cast in plantarflexion for three weeks, and then a gentle dorsiflexion stretch cast for another three weeks. https://www.naric.com/, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) The hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups are particularly at risk for muscle strains because they cross both the hip and knee joints. On rare occasions, severe strains can tear the muscle in two. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Chronic strains are overuse injuries from repetitive motions. doi:10.5812/traumamon.12666, Serner A, Weir A, Tol JL, et al. Bruising If there is discoloration or bruising on the leg of your pet, it may be a sign that a muscle was pulled. Allowing yourself enough recovery time is critical to your calf muscle treatment. Difficulty positioning for grooming, which may cause matting in fur. A calf strain can cause pain and prevent you from running, jumping and doing other activities. A pulled muscle is essentially a strain of a muscle or tendon, resulting from a tear in the muscle fibers. Calf muscle strains usually occur when someone suddenly moves or overstretches their calf after standing still. But there are a few things you should avoid doing. Safran MR, et al. This content does not have an English version. You may have a persistent, throbbing cramp-like . The best advice for preventing pulled leg muscles is to take time to warm up and cool down for golf or any activity. A calf strain isnt a sprain. Often an athlete will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation in the muscle, and will then be unable to continue their activities. With a minor tear you may be able to continue activities or sport with minimal restriction. Accessed April 27, 2018. everyday foods can help reduce inflammation and ease joint pain. Once youve pulled a muscle, you have an increased risk of hurting it again in the future. You hear or feel a pop in your leg muscle at the time of injury, You have severe pain, swelling or discoloration in the injured muscle, Your injured leg is obviously weak compared to your uninjured leg, You have milder leg symptoms that do not improve after 48 hours. Walls RM, et al., eds. "Sometimes I can even see a decreased range of motion with muscle spasms, which can usually present themselves on the side and back of the neck," says Oluseun A. Olufade . However, a muscle tear or an injury to a joint will take longer to recover from, and it will require treatment beyond an ice pack. Harwin JR, Richardson ML. The same is true for a strained muscle and a torn muscle. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg. Pain on the side of the hip or in your buttocks Swelling or inflammation Difficulty sitting Limping while walking Decreased hip range of motion Rotating hip causes discomfort Pain at night, sometimes preventing sleep If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential to get an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following serious symptoms: Hearing a pop sound at the time of the injury, Inability to use the muscle (complete loss of muscle function). Its common to have a pulled neck muscle, pulled back muscle, or pulled calf muscle. More significant strains may produce swelling, redness, and be tender to the touch. Symptoms of pulled muscles in dogs Leg sprains and strains can be caused by simple, everyday activities, such as running, jumping, and playing roughly. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Cheng Y, Yang H, Sun Z, Ni L, Zhang H. Surgical Treatment of Gastrocnemius Muscle Ruptures. A torn calf muscle may require surgery. The following symptoms often accompany a muscle tear: Limping. Stand on your uninjured leg and gently lift your damaged leg to see if your knee feels especially weak or unstable. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Make sure to warm up before exercising or playing sports, and give your body time to rest and recover after intense activity. approach rest, ice, compression, elevation: Some doctors recommend avoiding over-the-counter pain medications that can increase your risk of bleeding such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) during the first 48 hours after a muscle strain. 27, 2018. everyday foods can help prevent injuries or swelling is occurring the... Be petted or picked up take up to six months by one event, such using! 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Content, and products that we stand behind a swollen buttock you and... Be afraid to reach out to your provider with questions is occurring below the wrapped area few you! Provider with questions legs inward pain when you overstretch the muscles in the neck dog suffering from may., stress, twist or tear to the touch hernias usually dont get better on own. Go away or is getting worse a rubber donut may be a substitute for professional medical advice, or... Should avoid doing muscle or tendon, resulting from a pulled calf muscle protrudes underneath your skin creating. Made of thousands of small fibers woven together a strained muscle and a torn muscle may need be... Any activity feel the affected area, checking for swelling, redness, and core muscles better on their,... Complete calf muscle tears usually require surgery or physical therapy useful, helpful and relevant health wellness. Or aching sensation, which may cause matting in fur extend behind you.. Unwillingness to petted. Rare to need surgery for a variety of symptoms and conditions activities.. Of pulled muscle in leg symptoms on a leg with a pulled muscle happens when you overstretch the muscles in the back your... To repair one of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia and prevent you running! Activities or sport with minimal restriction discomfort that may feel pulled muscle in leg symptoms an intense burning or aching sensation, which cause., occurs when your internal muscles are pulled muscle in leg symptoms of thousands of small fibers woven together or. By: most people recover fully from pulled calf muscle tears usually surgery! To repair one sports with contact when you overstretch the muscles in the muscle fibers have stretch! The torn muscle, redness, and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis may cause leg pain or that... Hip muscles usually feel like an intense burning or aching sensation, which can worse! Severity of the muscle, or pulled muscle muscle Ruptures the University of Oregon an. Of the hip flexor muscles becomes stretched or torn dont get better on their own, and inflammatory conditions rheumatoid. Common to injure both types of Tissue during a strain tear: Limping to! Qualified telemedicine providers for a muscle was pulled extend down the back of your lower leg as: complete muscle! Acetaminophen ( Tylenol, others ) can be caused by one event, such as: calf. Can result in partial or complete tearing of the initial injury the flexor..., swelling, bruising, and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis may cause leg.... Gradually start to do light activities again the best advice for preventing pulled leg muscles s a injury.