Torn muscle fiber in the lower leg

Definition

A torn muscle fiber of the lower leg is a torn or torn muscle of the lower leg, usually caused by a traumatic or overstraining chronic event. Torn muscle fibers of the lower leg occur relatively frequently, especially in sports, and are among the most common sports injuries.

Causes of the torn muscle fiber in the lower leg

In principle, two different main causes of muscle fiber ruptures can be distinguished. The first cause is a sudden traumatic event with sudden acute rupture or tearing of the muscles. This acute event occurs when a sudden starting or stopping movement is performed.

An acute rupture of the muscle fibre is particularly common in soccer, handball or basketball, which involve fast turns or sprint sequences. The second cause of a torn muscle fiber is chronic. In case of chronic overuse, degenerative processes can suddenly cause the lower leg muscles to tear or rupture with sudden onset of pain.

Especially if incorrect strain has been applied to the lower leg for years, it can happen that at some point the muscles of the lower leg are so overstrained that they tear. Depending on how many muscle bundles are affected, there will be more or less severe movement restrictions in the area of the lower leg. The sudden tearing of a muscle bundle leads to severe to very severe stabbing and burning pain.

Diagnosis of a torn muscle fiber in the lower leg

The diagnosis of a torn muscle fiber is primarily made by questioning the patient about the course of the accident and by physical examination. An imaging diagnosis is usually not necessary in the first step. The patient is first questioned as to how long the pain in the lower leg area has been present, in which situation it occurred, whether there is any impairment of movement and whether similar complaints have occurred in the past.

Then the lower leg is looked at and palpated by the examiner. Here, muscle dents or bruises would indicate a relatively large tear in the muscles in the area of the lower leg. Furthermore, the palpation is used to check whether the muscles in the area of the lower leg are painful under pressure.

The patient may also be asked to walk a few steps or to try the toe gait, which is no longer possible in the case of a large tear in the muscle fibers. In case of doubt, a torn muscle fibre can sometimes be diagnosed by an ultrasound examination of the lower leg muscle. A relatively reliable diagnosis by imaging is given by performing an MRI examination of the lower leg. In this imaging procedure, muscle tears or tears can be shown quite well. As a rule, however, this diagnostic procedure is only used when the causes of the complaints are not clear and there are doubts as to whether or not it is a torn muscle fibre of the lower leg.