Symptoms of a Torn Muscle

By Michael Hinckley

Torn muscles, also called "strained" muscles, are sometimes unavoidable but largely misunderstood. Knowing the difference between a fatigued muscle and a torn or strained muscle can save you a lot of pain and recovery time, but only if you know what to look for in the first place. A quick self-assessment and some helpful hints are all you need to determine if you've torn a muscle or not.

Pain

Check the muscle for pain. Pain can come on suddenly (acute), such as after lifting something heavy, or may be caused by repetitive motions and come on more slowly. Either way, pain is a certain sign that something is wrong.

Swelling

Check the area for swelling. If the muscle is swollen, then fluids are rushing to the affected area and causing it to swell to protect it. If the area is swollen--especially if accompanied by pain--then it likely is a torn muscle.

Favoring

Check to see if your body is "favoring" a muscle. Subconsciously, your body will try to prevent further injury by favoring--that is, treating gingerly--the affected area. For example, you may be favoring your right leg if you do not put your full weight on it or if you do not use your full range of motion.

Spasms

Feel around the affected area for "knots" in your muscle. When a muscle is injured, your brain tells the other muscles surrounding it to spasm in order to protect the muscle. If you have a "knot" in your muscle, you are experiencing a spasm, which may indicate a torn muscle.

About The Author

Michael Hinckley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in US history from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Arts degree in Middle East history from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Hinckley is conversant in Arabic, and is a part-time lecturer at two Midwestern universities.