Definition/Introduction
A torn muscle fibre on the upper arm is usually a tear in muscle tissue caused by heavy strain. The injury mechanism of a pulled muscle, a torn muscle fibre and a complete muscle tear is the same, only the extent of the muscle damage is different. In the case of a rupture of a muscle fiber, individual fibers of a muscle bundle tear, but some fibers are still intact, otherwise one would speak of a complete muscle rupture.
Causes of a torn muscle fiber on the upper arm
The main reasons for a torn muscle fibre on the upper arm are sudden, jerky movements such as in tennis, squash or golf, but also weight suddenly acting on the muscle (e.g. weight lifting, lifting heavy everyday objects, etc.) Overstraining due to fatigue or overloading of the muscles can promote a rupture of the muscle fibers on the upper arm. Other causes include poor or insufficient warming up or stretching of the arm muscles before intensive arm muscle training, as well as cold or wet conditions (e.g. rainy weather in autumn/winter) or previous, unhealed injuries to the upper arm muscles.
A torn muscle fiber on the upper arm is very often a sports injury. In most cases, the muscles are overstrained because the athlete has not warmed up, stretched or simply overestimated the extent of the injury. But even after a heavy fall, various muscle injuries can occur.
For example, if you fall on your shoulder or twist your arm when falling, the unnatural position of the limbs can lead to torn muscle fibers. This is often an accident in which not only the muscles but also the skeleton is affected. If the humerus breaks, it can injure the muscle.
In some cases, it is not only a rupture of the muscle fibre. If appropriate forces are applied to the musculoskeletal system, it can also cause ruptures of muscle bundles or even a muscle rupture. Elderly people are a particularly sensitive patient group. In older patients, falls frequently occur, in which the long tubular bones, i.e. the upper arm and thigh bones, are affected. Since the connective tissue, muscles and tendon attachments no longer have their old strength and elasticity, this can lead to tears or even tears.
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