Torn muscle

Almost every very active athlete suffers an injury or pulled muscle at some point. The most serious injury to the muscle is a complete muscle tear. Soccer players, short-distance sprinters and also tennis players are usually affected by a torn muscle.

In these sports, the thigh muscles in particular are subjected to very strong and abrupt strain. However, a muscle tear can also occur in the case of traumatic injuries, e.g. an accident, or through the use of force. The movement exercised by the affected muscle can then no longer be performed, unlike in the case of a torn muscle fibre.

Symptoms

The most important and concise symptom of the muscle tear is a very strong, stabbing and sharp pain, which occurs suddenly and without any warning. It becomes stronger when trying to tense the muscle. For example, in the case of a torn muscle fibre of the right biceps, one feels pain in the right arm when tensing the muscle.

Depending on the size of the torn muscle and its position on the limb, dents or indentations may be seen on that same muscle. These can also indicate a torn muscle. A complete tear can also be felt from the outside.

In addition, the movement that was previously performed is then no longer possible. Furthermore, a complete muscle rupture leads to heavy bleeding into the tissue. This can usually become visible as swelling after one day.

The bruise becomes visible within a few days as a discoloration of the skin above and below the injury. A distinction is made between intra- and intermuscular bleeding.

  • Intramuscular bleeding is characterized by severe pain and a high pressure increase in the affected tissue.

    The bleeding occurs within the muscle and its fascia. The fascia is a kind of connective tissue skin of the muscle. The increase in pressure finally stops the bleeding. However, the freedom of movement of the muscle is severely restricted.

  • An intermuscular bleeding occurs in the connective tissue between the muscles. A swelling is usually visible below the injury due to gravity.