Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The usual symptoms of this type of injury include pain, spasms of the muscle, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. The amount of pain and other symptoms will depend on the severity of the strain. With a minor tear you may be able to continue activities or sport with minimal restriction. The best way to prevent these problems is to seek prompt medical care for muscle pain, soreness or weakness. 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. Does a blood clot in leg hurt all the time? Afterwards, you may need regular physical therapy to recover and return to activities. Keeping your calf muscles strong and conditioned. A pulled calf muscle happens when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, gradually increasing the time as your flexibility builds. Most groin pulls are relatively minor and have simply pulled a muscle beyond its normal range of motion, causing incidental tears. A pulled muscle occurs when you tear or overstretch some of the muscle fibers. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. Cheng Y, Yang H, Sun Z, Ni L, Zhang H. Surgical Treatment of Gastrocnemius Muscle Ruptures. 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. You can still walk with a mild strain, but it may be uncomfortable. Muscles strains are caused by tears in the fibers of your muscles. Theres also a risk for a recurring calf muscle strain within one to two weeks of the initial injury. 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. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Pulled Calf Muscle: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Knee Pain Explained Home Diagnosis Diagnosis Guide Diagnosis Chart Knee Symptoms Front Knee Pain Lateral Knee Pain Medial Knee Pain Pain Behind Knee Kneecap Pain Calf Pain Burning Knee Hyperextended Knee Knee Locking Leg Cramps Knee Pain Bending Pain Kneeling Pain At Night Pain On Stairs About 30 percent of people with muscle injuries end up having repeated injuries. Our gentle homeopathic formulas are made with all natural active ingredients. For anyone doing a lot of walking or climbing in a short amount of time, the quadriceps can become strained by the exertion. Your favorite pair of jeans have plenty of flexibility to them because youve stretched them out over years. Back. There is significant pain and swelling at the site of the injury. "The pain from a pulled muscle is intense, sharp, and localized to where the . 2017 Apr;25(4):269-79, doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00171, Suarez JC, Ely EE, Mutnal AB, et al. 2. The difference between a strain and a sprain is that a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone, while a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together. Abnormal withdrawal and hiding. Make a donation. They help you flex and bend your foot, ankle and knee. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Strains can develop slowly over time or happen very suddenly. With a pulled muscle, however, the pain is usually immediate. The groin muscles are called the adductor muscles. you have pain, tenderness or weakness - often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg or back the injured area is swollen or bruised you cannot put weight on the injury or use it normally you have muscle spasms or cramping - where your muscles painfully tighten on their own Is it a sprain or a strain? A pulled groin muscle is usually self-apparent. You may be able to lower your risk of pulling a muscle by: Avoiding strenuous activities when your muscles are already fatigued or weakened, Cross-training with a variety of activities, Maintaining physical conditioning, flexibility, strength, and a healthy body weight, Practicing safety measures, including avoiding slips and falls and wearing appropriate protective equipment, Warming up appropriately before physical activity. There may also be a popping sound or snapping sensation. A calf muscle pull will leave the muscle feeling sore, tender and stiff. Most commonly, gluteus muscle injuries heal with time and no further treatment. Suffers will also experience a mild decrease in strength with the affected muscle. Muscular Calf Injuries in Runners. Quadriceps The muscles at the front of thigh are the most powerful in the body, but they are still vulnerable to pulls and strains. Flexing or extending the damaged leg could prove difficult, resulting in mobility difficulties. 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. Allowing yourself enough recovery time is critical to your calf muscle treatment. 11 Things Your Orthopedic Specialist Wants You to Know. Hernias usually dont get better on their own, and youll probably need surgery to repair one. (2009). Symptoms of a Grade III strain may last until the torn muscle is repaired surgically. 2016 Sept/Oct;15(5):320-324. Knowing the symptoms of a pulled leg muscle will help you decide on the right course of action. Difficulty tensing your calf muscles or standing on toes. Tingling. To prevent groin pulls, stretch regularly. 10 Things to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis. Chronic strains tend to have vague symptoms that are easy to overlook at first. Poor circulation or numbness in the area where the muscle pain is felt. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/, National Athletic Trainers' Association Even if the lump isn't painful, if it continues to grow, or if it's located deep within an extremity . Harwin JR, Richardson ML. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/28/2022. Its rare to need prescription medication like muscle relaxers for a muscle strain. When diagnosing a pulled leg muscle, a doctor will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms, so be ready to answer questions about when the pain started, what you were doing when the pain started, what helps relieve the pain and how you would describe the pain (twinge, throb or ache). . For some injuries, such as a torn tendon, surgery may be considered. This article describes the symptoms of pulled groin muscle as well as the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery times. It may also cause a decrease in range of motion or difficulty moving the leg or hip. A thigh strain can involve the quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh or the hamstring muscles on the back of the thigh. 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. Bend the knee underneath your torso to lower yourself and stretch the muscles of the inner thigh of the opposite leg. Symptoms include: leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. Quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh. Sprains and strains. Dull, sharp, and/or achy pain in the neck. 2nd ed. Earn 16 Rewards Points. They may even have you do mild stretches while they look at your calf muscle to see if its pulled. Its common to injure both types of tissue during a strain. See a doctor if your symptoms worsen despite treatment especially if your pain becomes intolerable, or you experience numbness or tingling. Leg feels weak when you try to lift or do squats. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. It is intended for informational purposes only. But these strains are more common in athletes who perform lots of stop-and-go movements with quick bursts of speed. Dont be afraid to reach out to your provider with questions. 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. These tears have to be repaired with surgery. While you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that commonly affect the calves and hamstrings. Unfortunately, the main causes of rectus femoris strain are fairly common. The most common symptoms of DVT are swelling in an arm . Simple stretches--not any that tax your flexibility too much, though--will help prepare your muscles for a few hours of exercise. Muscles and tendons work together to enable movement. 2017 Mar;12(1):120-123. Learn about symptoms and treatment. For golfers, you might notice a calf pull just walking the course. The same is true for a strained muscle and a torn muscle. William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS. You may feel a blood clot moving in your leg if you start to get sudden chest pains and shortness of breath. Headaches. Orthopaedic Surgery. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Recovery after surgery can take up to six months. Compress the muscle with an elastic bandage. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. This can happen if your dog stretches too far, too much, or too often. Hip Strains. Healthgrades Can Help. DOI: Parker G, et al. Possible shoulder pain. This can result in a pulled muscle in the back. 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pulled muscle in leg symptoms