Diagnostics
First of all, the skin should be examined as part of the diagnostic procedure if there is a suspected rupture of a muscle fibre in the breast. If superficial swelling or dents can be detected, it is probably a superficial or particularly severe injury. The muscle usually hurts when pressure is applied.
Even if the tear is deeper, the bruise caused by bleeding into the muscle tissue can be seen from the outside. The extent does not necessarily have to correlate with the degree of damage, as the formation of the bruise is limited when cooling rapidly. The extent of the limitation can be determined by movement or muscle function tests.
In order to examine the damage more closely, imaging techniques must be used to help. The muscle can be examined either with ultrasound or with MRI.The MRI image can usually show the resulting defect more accurately, but it takes longer and is more expensive. An MRI image should only be requested in the case of serious damage, for example to rule out the possibility of vascular or bone involvement.
Torn muscle fibre in the woman
If a woman has a torn muscle fibre in the breast, there are a number of alternative diagnoses. Normally, the affected woman can differentiate very well whether the pain is localized under the breast tissue, i.e. in the muscle or bone, or in the tissue of the female breast. So-called differential diagnoses (alternative diagnoses) are mastitis (inflammation of the breast) or, for example, milk congestion during pregnancy.
Since women do less bodybuilding or excessive weight training than men, muscle fiber tears in the breast occur far less frequently in women. If the injury requires surgery, a different procedure than for men is necessary. The path to the muscle is deeper and care must be taken to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the female breast.
Complications in the shoulder
The anatomical structures of the shoulder and the breast are closely linked. The pectoral muscles start at the upper end of the humerus and are thus firmly connected to the shoulder. The shoulder and chest regions are involved in almost all movements of the arms and upper body, and it is virtually impossible to move either part of the body alone.
Thus, during the exercises that led to the rupture of muscle fibers, both chest and shoulder muscles may have been affected. You can find more information about this here: Torn muscle fiber tear of the shoulder It is also possible that the pain arising in the chest muscle is drawn into the shoulder, which is simply due to the proximity of the corresponding muscle groups. If the pectoral muscle has to be immobilized after a torn muscle fiber, the shoulder and arm muscles on the same side will automatically also be reduced.
