One of the typical sports injuries is the muscle fiber tear. Most often it occurs in the area of the thigh or calf. Sprinters and footballers in particular often suffer from a muscle fiber tear, as the high loads on the muscles are particularly evident in these sports. Missing or insufficient warming up and stretching are then mostly responsible for the tearing of the muscle fibers. Severe stabbing pain is then the result.
What is a muscle fiber tear?
Physical therapy is especially beneficial for sports injuries. Muscle hardening is loosened, lactate is reduced, strains and small muscle tears are detected and treated early. A muscle fiber tear is a sports injury that often occurs in running sports and especially in the thigh or calf area. In this injury, there is a tear of a muscle fiber bundle and not a tear of a single muscle fiber as is commonly believed. A muscle fiber tear is similar to a muscle strain and a muscle tear, with the muscle strain being a much milder injury and the muscle tear being a much more severe injury. Symptoms of a muscle fiber tear include a sudden stabbing pain, as well as later persistent pain when the corresponding muscle is tightened. There is also bleeding into the muscle with a muscle fiber tear, which can be detected by ultrasound examination.
Causes
A muscle fiber tear is often caused by movements that are too strong or even too abrupt. This can be a start or also a braking of a running movement. Back to the muscle fiber tear is often due to fatigue or overload of the muscle, which can no longer withstand the strong contractions and stretching. Insufficient warm-up or cold weather in winter can also serve as causes. If the muscle is not properly prepared for training, it is insufficiently supplied with blood, the communication between muscle and receptors is limited and the muscle does not react quickly enough. Basic muscular imbalances can also cause a muscle fiber tear. Dysbalances are present when one muscle is more developed than its counterpart. Then one muscle has to compensate for the weaknesses of another and is exposed to a higher load. This can then lead to a muscle fiber tear.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
A muscle fiber tear manifests itself without warning as an acute, cramp-like pain, similar to a knife or needle stick. The affected person tries to adopt a protective posture to avoid straining the torn muscle as much as possible. If the sensation of pain increases sharply when a muscle is strained, pressed or stretched, these are further signs of a muscle fiber tear (usually of the first degree). If more than five percent of the muscle’s fibers are torn, symptoms intensify with swelling, but it usually subsides after 24 hours to two days. The formation of a bruise (hematoma) is often the result. Serious muscle fiber tears up to muscle bundle tears are also visible by hemorrhages, when the muscle sheath consisting of connective tissue tears and the blood penetrates into the tissue. In this case, the patient feels the immediate loss of strength of the muscle, so that it can only be active to a very limited extent and the course of movement is impaired. In addition, a muscle fiber tear (grade II and higher) can also be detected by palpation. As an indication, a dent or even a bulge can be seen, because the muscle parts contract towards the tendon ends. The exact interpretation of the symptoms and the intensity of the injury should be examined by a physician.
Course of disease
After a muscle fiber tear, the muscle should not be strained, if possible, because it needs time for the muscle fibers to grow together. A muscle fiber tear takes about 4-7 weeks to heal, although there are differences depending on the athlete and the muscle fiber tear. After a few days or weeks, improvement should be noticeable. The muscle feels stronger again, becomes more resilient and the ability to stretch slowly increases. However, scars develop in the muscle, which can also lead to limited elasticity of the muscle in the long term. If the muscle is not sufficiently rested after a muscle fiber tear, ossifications can occur. These develop from bruising and are usually due to incorrect treatment after the muscle fiber tear.
Complications
A muscle fiber tear is a clinical picture associated with various complications. As a rule, a muscle fiber tear is caused by an overload of the corresponding muscle. The affected person is particularly disturbed in the course of movement, since such a muscle fiber tear is very painful. Even at rest, there may be stabbing pain in the respective body region. Under certain circumstances, inflammation can even form if the affected area continues to be subjected to heavy strain. In particularly bad cases, an abscess may even form, which is filled with pus fluid. Such an accumulation of pus can cause various other complications. If this fluid enters the bloodstream, it can even lead to blood poisoning under certain circumstances. An infection can also develop in this way. Severe headaches, fever and aching limbs are the result. Anyone wishing to avoid these complications should seek medical treatment at an early stage. By taking the appropriate medication, healing can take place quickly and complications do not occur in the first place. Thus, a muscle tear may be associated with various complications, which should always be treated by a doctor accordingly. Otherwise, permanent consequential damage may be threatened, so that a complete recovery is no longer possible.
When should you see a doctor?
The muscle fiber tear is an injury that in many cases heals even without the therapeutic options of a doctor. This is especially true if only small areas are affected, so the tear is not too pronounced. Spontaneous healing occurs here simply by sparing and, if necessary, cooling the affected muscles. Nevertheless, there are some reasons why a visit to the doctor is advisable. These include, for example, severe pain that cannot be relieved by cooling or painkillers. A large hematoma, an accumulation of blood in the tissue, is also a reason for a visit to the doctor. This is especially true if the bruise does not seem to diminish over time or even becomes encapsulated, which is easily palpable as a hardening even by the layman. In addition, it is possible that a hematoma presses on a blood vessel or a nerve and exerts compression there. This can lead to undersupply of the tissue. Therefore, numbness or a tingling sensation are also reasons to see a doctor. Severe pain may also indicate that it is not a muscle fiber tear, but a muscle bundle tear that should be treated by a doctor. If the injury is due to a fall or blow, the medical professional can also determine if a tendon, ligament or bony structure is involved.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment for a muscle fiber tear differs depending on the severity of the injury and the general physical conditions of the injured person. In this case, initial treatment proceeds according to the PECH scheme. Accordingly, rest, ice, compression (pressure bandage) and elevation are used for a muscle fiber tear. This prevents severe bleeding and swelling. These immediate measures can also be decisive for the further success of the treatment and the duration of the injury. In the following days, the muscle should be extensively rested. If a muscle fiber is torn in the leg, arm supports make walking easier. In addition, there are cold treatments and exercises to relax the muscles. The exercises also ensure that muscle strength is maintained. Special tape dressings that help the muscle fibers grow together can also be beneficial for healing after a muscle fiber tear. Whether surgery is appropriate is determined on an individual basis. However, surgery is usually only performed if a large portion of the muscle fiber bundle is torn, making it impossible for the muscle fibers to grow together naturally in a severe muscle fiber tear.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis for a muscle fiber tear is usually very good. Usually, depending on the severity, the injury heals on its own and completely within two to four weeks, provided that the injured muscle is rested. In the case of a muscle bundle tear or muscle tear, healing may take longer (up to two months). Various measures have a healing-promoting effect. Immediate rest and elevation of the muscle prevents severe bleeding. Heat should also be avoided. Careful attention should be paid to observing the rest period, as otherwise further injury to the muscle may occur. This can unnecessarily delay healing or significantly worsen the initial situation.Targeted physiotherapy and subsequent physiotherapy also have a beneficial effect on healing. Here, the muscle is loaded carefully and with increasing intensity in order to restore the original functionality. Complications are rare and actually only occur if the muscle is prematurely overused again. Even in this case, the prognosis remains good if the patient adheres to the measures described. Muscle tissue is very regenerative, so permanent damage can almost always be ruled out.
Aftercare
Especially in the case of a pronounced muscle fiber tear, good aftercare is important. Although even severe fiber tears heal after a few months, the resulting scar tissue shows up as shorter. It is also less easily stretched than normal muscle tissue. Due to different stretching properties, there is also a risk of renewed muscle fiber tears. However, this risk can be counteracted by rehabilitation measures that can be individually tailored. To this end, the patient performs isometric exercises. This is followed by coordination and movement training. In the course of the follow-up treatment, the muscles are gradually subjected to further strain, for example through sporting activities such as swimming or cycling, which are easy on the joints and proceed in a harmonious manner. Eventually, sport-specific training can be resumed. An important rehabilitation measure is the physiotherapeutic manual lymphatic drainage. It has a decongestant effect and combats pain and pressure in the injured part of the body. It can be performed a few days after the muscle fiber tear. Light stretching exercises and moderate heat are also helpful. It is important that the affected muscle is given enough time to recover. This can prevent complications. It is also important to avoid alcohol, because it weakens the body’s defense system and disrupts the healing process. A healthy diet rich in protein, on the other hand, has a positive effect. Thus, protein is considered an important building material for the organism.
Aftercare
Especially with pronounced muscle fiber tears, good aftercare is important. Although even severe fiber tears heal after a few months, the resulting scar tissue shows up as shorter. It is also less amenable to stretching than normal muscle tissue. Due to different stretching properties, there is also a risk of renewed muscle fiber tears. However, the risk can be counteracted by rehabilitation measures that can be individually tailored. For this purpose, the patient performs isometric exercises. This is followed by coordination and movement training. In the course of the follow-up treatment, the muscles are gradually subjected to further strain, for example through sporting activities such as swimming or cycling, which are easy on the joints and proceed in a harmonious manner. Eventually, sports training can be resumed. An important rehabilitation measure is the physiotherapeutic manual lymphatic drainage. It has a decongestant effect and combats pain and pressure in the injured part of the body. It can be performed a few days after the muscle fiber tear. Light stretching exercises and moderate heat are also helpful. It is important that the affected muscle is given enough time to recover. This can prevent complications. It is also important to avoid alcohol, because it weakens the body’s defense system and disrupts the healing process. A healthy diet rich in protein, on the other hand, has a positive effect. Thus, protein is considered an important building material for the organism.
This is what you can do yourself
If a muscle fiber tear is suspected, sporting activity should be stopped immediately to limit the damage. The sooner the right measures are taken, the faster the tear will heal. The injured muscle should be immobilized using a sling or bandage. Afterwards, cooling helps against the pain. Cold, moist compresses and ice packs are suitable for this purpose. Important: Ice packs should not come into direct contact with the skin, but should be wrapped in a cloth. Otherwise, there is a risk of frostbite. Apply the ice treatment for about 20 minutes. A pressure bandage also has a similar effect to cooling with ice. The advantage here is that the elastic bandage additionally stabilizes the muscle and restricts mobility. However, the bandage must not be applied too tightly so as not to pinch nerves and blood vessels.Elevating the affected body part helps to reduce blood flow in the injured tissue. This reduces the pain and the swelling goes down. For this reason, heat should also be avoided immediately after the injury, as this stimulates blood flow. These measures develop their effect optimally when used in combination.
