What am I
Muscle sprains and bruises are quite frequent sports injuries, especially in those disciplines, such as football or basketball, which involve intense movements and contact between players.
Muscle tears represent the partial or total injury of a muscle, and are classified according to the severity of the tear.
The muscle lesion is of the first degree if it affects the rupture of less than 5% of the fibers, of the second degree if there is a rupture of fibers and muscle fascicles, and of the third degree when it affects a large part of the muscle or the entire muscle.
The contusion, on the other hand, is a classic traumatic event caused by a fall, a blow or other similar event involving a part of the body.
Symptoms
The intensity of the pain caused by a muscle tear is proportional to the extent of the damage, i.e. to the number of fibers involved. In any case, the pain felt is evoked by the contraction of the affected muscle.
If the trauma is particularly serious, it is practically impossible to move the affected part and the muscle appears stiff and contracted. A distraction of II or III degree is accompanied, in most cases, by edema and swelling.
Another typical sign of a tear is the hematoma, the size of which is proportional to the size of the lesion.
After the resolution of the damage, there is the formation of scar tissue which often compromises the elasticity and therefore the functionality of the muscle.
The contusion is always and in any case accompanied by a hematoma. The latter is caused by the rupture of blood vessels under the skin and the associated hemorrhage.
In general, contusions are classified into:
| Type of contusion | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Skin bruises | They affect the skin and can cause bruising |
| Muscle bruises | More important than the previous ones, as they involve the underlying muscle as well as the skin |
| Tendon contusions | More common where the tendons are more exposed to superficial trauma |
| Joint bruises | A load of a joint, and can cause a spill of blood and / or liquids |
| Bone bruises | They involve the membrane lining the bone and can cause infection |
The therapies
In the event of an obvious muscle tear, it is advisable to consult your doctor immediately, since, in the most serious cases, it is necessary to resort to surgery and in any case promptly to suture the lesion.
The always recommended therapy involves rest or abstention from sports for a certain period and treatment based on anti-inflammatories to reduce inflammation and local pain.
Sometimes physiotherapy or physical activity sessions are prescribed under the supervision of a specialist.
In contusions, on the other hand, in order to accelerate the process of absorption of the hematoma, it is advisable to immediately apply ice, which blocks the flow of blood, and possibly ointments.
The hematoma can determine a more or less serious picture depending on its size: small ones are usually reabsorbed, while large ones may require timely surgical removal.
In certain cases, always depending on the size of the hematoma, the doctor could prescribe heparin-based drugs, to facilitate the circulation and reabsorption of blood from the tissues.
In both cases, topical painkillers are widely used, such as those based on 10% ibuprofen lysine salt, which guarantee a good level of absorption, greatly reducing the risk of side effects.
In fact, when applied externally, these NSAIDs do not reach the bloodstream, except in small quantities, and therefore give few general side effects. In addition, they reach high concentrations at the site of action, i.e. the inflamed and sore muscle.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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