Definition
A torn muscle fibre is an injury to the musculature which results in the rupture of individual fibre parts but not the whole muscle. In most cases, several muscle fibers of the same muscle fiber bundle rupture at the same time. A rupture of a muscle fiber is usually always accompanied by a visible bleeding at the affected area.
A distinction is made between intra- and intermuscular bleeding. The intramuscular bleeding bleeds locally into a muscle fascia without the blood being able to spread further. This compresses the corresponding muscle area so that movement is restricted even several days later.
In contrast to intermuscular bleeding, intramuscular bleeding can be detected directly at the affected tear point. However, the intermuscular hemorrhage is somewhat further down the line, as the blood flows between (“inter”) individual muscle groups. Here, the swelling is rather limited, as the volume can be well distributed.
Causes of a torn muscle fiber in the back
Often, the muscle fiber tear is a sports injury, since only strong strains can cause a single fiber to tear. Actually, larger muscle groups such as those found on the thighs or legs, especially the calf muscles, are affected by such an event. Nevertheless, a rupture of muscle fibers can also occur in the back.
However, this occurs far less frequently. A torn muscle fibre occurs when a muscle is stretched extremely by strong and sudden strain. The individual muscle fibers consist of many myofibrils, which ensure contraction via other small functional units and only tolerate a certain degree of stretching and compression.
Muscle fiber parts in the transition area to a tendon are often affected. In addition to sudden overloading, the risk of a muscle fiber rupture can increase in the long term due to incorrect or inadequate warming up and unphysiological movement sequences or incorrect exercise performance. The fatigue aspect of the musculature and the fact that a person is generally less capable of stretching should also be considered as the cause of a torn muscle fiber.
The back muscles in particular are often not sufficiently trained and are often not used. Due to continuous stimulation, it is ultimately possible that the tolerance threshold is exceeded and a muscle fiber ruptures because it can no longer withstand the strain. Lifting heavy objects by simply pulling them up instead of squatting them is considered a classic movement in which a torn muscle fiber is caught.
