Torn hamstring
Synonyms
- Muscle tear
- Rupture of muscle bundles
- Muscle strain
English: rupture of a muscle fiber
definition
A Torn hamstring is a mostly visible interruption of the muscle structure (partly visible and palpable as a dent).
The most common cause are maximum loads in insufficiently heated areas Musculature, as well as disproportionately strong overstretching.
First aid
In order to avoid complications and to accelerate the healing process, a torn muscle fiber must be treated as soon as possible. Correct behavior at the scene of the accident can help to significantly shorten the time it takes to achieve full recovery. The first rule if a torn muscle fiber is suspected is to stop any physical activity immediately (break). Immediately after the onset of pain, a torn muscle fiber should be treated according to the so-called PECH rule. The first letters indicate the four most important first measures in relation to the presence of a torn muscle fiber.
These measures include:
- Break
- ice
- Compression (compression)
- Elevation
1st break: A torn muscle fiber must have enough time to heal completely. The risk of secondary diseases can only be minimized if the affected extremity is absolutely immobilized immediately after the accident. If the muscle fiber tears in the shoulder, absolute immobilization of the entire arm is recommended. Since the torn muscle fiber is a classic disease of athletic patients, it is essential to take a break.
2. Ice: In the course of the muscle fiber tear, there is not just a rupture of muscle fibers. As a rule, small vessels are also affected. Active cooling immediately after the onset of pain symptoms can result in large bruises (Hematomas) be avoided. This fact can be explained by the fact that the influence of cold on the affected tissue induces a narrowing of the vessels and bleeding into the muscle is avoided. In addition, the cooling relieves the pain caused by the muscle fiber tear and counteracts possible edema formation.
With active cooling, however, it should be ensured that the coolant (e.g. ice) is never in direct contact with the skin surface. Otherwise, frostbite and tissue damage can occur. For this reason, a pad (cloth or similar) should be placed between the coolant and the surface of the skin and a pause lasting several minutes should be observed between the individual cooling units.
3. Compression: In addition to the pause in movement and the active cooling of the affected muscle, the external compression also plays a decisive role in positively influencing the healing process of the muscle fiber tear. The application of pressure on the affected extremity in combination with immobilization (break) and active cooling should serve to prevent bleeding into the muscle mass and thus prevent possible scarring.
For this purpose, wide-area compression bandages are particularly suitable, which also have a stabilizing effect on the injured muscle. When applying the compression bandage, however, care must be taken that there is no constriction of vessels or nerves.
4. Elevation: Elevating the affected extremity (arm or leg) results in a restriction of the arterial blood flow. This means that less blood gets to the injured tissue via the arterial vessels. At the same time, however, the elevated position improves the outflow of blood via the venous system. Elevation during the exercise break further reduces the formation of swellings and bruises and thus has a positive effect on the healing process.
Even with optimal initial treatment of the muscle fiber tear, the damaged muscle needs a different amount of time to regenerate, depending on the extent of the injury. The less the damage, the faster training can be resumed. The more extensive the muscle fiber tear, the longer the break from any stress should be. Affected patients should note that a torn muscle fiber usually has a very good prognosis and in most cases heals without secondary diseases. However, it is essential to take a break, if necessary for several weeks.
Read more on this topic at: Treatment of a torn hamstring
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The focus is therefore on diseases of the muscles, tendons and joints.
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Illustration of a hamstring tear
- Muscle fiber
of a skeletal muscle
Muscle fibra - Muscle fiber bundles -
Muscular Fasciculus - Tendon fibers -
Fibrae tendineae - Transition of muscle fibers
in tendon fibers -
Junctio myotendinea - Muscle fascia
(= Muscle skin) -
Fascia - Skeletal muscle -
Maecenas musculus osseus
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
Causes of the hamstring torn
People who have a tendency to harden their muscles tend to be more likely to experience injuries in the muscle area.
The most common causes of muscular injuries include sudden maximum loads such as
- Accelerations (Final spurt, quick sprint, ...)
or - Combinations of accelerating and braking, such as those found in tennis or soccer.
Tears and muscle fiber tears then always result from the short-term extreme stress in the area of rapid muscle strength, so that the muscle can no longer absorb or absorb the sudden mechanical tensile forces.
Cold and damp weather or insufficient warm-up before sporting activities are also among the causes.
diagnosis
As mentioned above, muscle injuries differ in their severity and the type of pain. For this reason, the patient's description of the pain is particularly informative for the diagnosis.
In general, muscle injuries such as torn muscle fibers cause pressure, stretching and tension pains. The patient moves into a relieving posture, which can be expressed, for example, in the case of muscle injuries to the leg by hobbling or similar.
In the case of strains, a spindle-shaped, delimitable zone can be felt in addition to the patient's description in the form of rapidly increasing cramp-like pain.
The acute, stabbing pain associated with a ruptured muscle fiber or rupture may be characterized by an externally visible hematoma (bruise).
In the case of a muscle tear, a dent can become visible through the bulging of muscle parts, which later becomes no longer visible due to swelling. A partial or complete loss of function of the muscle and recurring sharp pain when the muscle is contracted (muscle tension) also speaks for a muscle tear.
The doctor not only determines the injury to the muscle fiber tear by palpation and assessment, but also uses specific movement tests to check the extent of the restriction.
In particular, the resistance test, in which the patient tenses the muscle while the doctor (orthopedic surgeon) exerts counter pressure, shows the limitation and extent of the pain.
treatment
The immediate measures according to the PECH rule can provide initial pain relief after a muscle fiber tear.
The most important treatment for a torn muscle fiber is to protect the muscle and if necessary, pain therapy (for example with ibuprofen, diclofenac).
The positive healing process following the immediate measures depends on how much time is invested in regeneration.
If the muscle is stressed too early, serious consequential damage can occur and the healing process is much slower.
You should take a break from exercise for around 3 to 12 weeks after a muscle fiber tear.
The length of time shows how important the regeneration measures are after a muscle injury.
It is recommended to carry out manual lymphatic drainage, which acts as a decongestant to reduce pressure and pain in the affected muscle area and contributes to faster regeneration.
After the lymphatic drainage, mild heat (eg a hot role) and light stretching exercises in the pain-free area provide further relief.
When treating a torn muscle fiber, tape bandages to support the muscles are useful. Loose loads and light forms of movement (e.g. walking with forearm crutches), followed by easy cycling and swimming, are suitable for gently stimulating the muscle without putting your own body weight under full load.
You can find more information on this topic here: Taping of torn muscle fibers
Surgical intervention may be necessary depending on the severity of the injury. Usually, during an operation to tear a muscle fiber, the bruise that has formed is removed and, if necessary, the muscle fibers are sutured.
Such an intervention becomes necessary if the muscle has been damaged so severely that it cannot heal by itself and there is a risk of permanent functional damage. For example, if more than a third of the cross-section of the muscle is affected, if the bleeding is excessive or if the muscle fails to function completely, surgery is required.
After the operation, the affected muscle is immobilized for about six weeks to prevent it from tearing again.
Duration
A ruptured muscle fiber mainly affects athletes, especially often in soccer, ballet or weight training.
When the muscle fiber tears, as the name suggests, individual muscle fibers tear. The reason for this can be too high a load or too much force.
Depending on the severity of the muscle fiber tear, the duration also differs. Small muscle fiber tears occur again and again and are hardly associated with pain. The patient may notice a slight tugging or a brief stabbing pain, which then quickly disappears. Such muscle fiber tears are quite short in duration. Although it takes a long time until the damaged muscles are regenerated again, since the muscle fiber tear is so small, it can be compensated for by the surrounding muscle fibers that are still intact and the patient has neither pain nor functional restrictions.
The situation is different with a larger muscle fiber tear, however. This leads to severe pain and swelling, and often bleeding in the area of the injury. In this case, the time it takes for the torn muscle to heal is much longer and, above all, it is associated with much greater circumstances. In general, it can be said that the time it takes for a muscle fiber tear to heal completely depends on the one hand on the location and on the other hand on the severity of the tear.
The most important thing, however, is to cool the torn muscle fiber sufficiently immediately after the injury and then to take it easy. This is particularly difficult with the legs, but also with the arm muscles, but it is of decisive importance for the healing process and thus for the duration of the injury. In general, a muscle fiber tear should last between 3-6 weeks. During this time you should put as little strain on the affected muscle as possible. However, many athletes try to shorten the duration of the hamstring by taping the affected muscle.
With this technique, the tape takes over the function of the muscle in a certain way and thereby relieves it more. This supports the healing process.
However, it should be said that it is important to adhere to the sports leave period prescribed by the doctor, as otherwise muscle fiber tears will occur again and again and much more quickly and the muscle will not heal properly.
Read more on the topic: Duration of a muscle fiber tear
- Muscle fiber
of a skeletal muscle
Muscle fibra - Muscle fiber bundles -
Muscular Fasciculus - Epimysium (light blue) -
Connective tissue sheaths around groups
of muscle fiber bundles - Perimysium (yellow) -
Connective tissue sheaths
around muscle fiber bundles - Endomysium (green) -
Connective tissue between muscle fibers - Myofibrils (= muscle fibrils)
- Sarcomere (myofibril segment)
- Myosin threads
- Actin threads
- artery
- vein
- Muscle fascia
(= Muscle skin) - Fascia - Transition of muscle fibers
in tendon fibers -
Junctio myotendinea - Skeletal muscle
- Tendon fibers -
Fibrae tendineae
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
Sports break
As with most diseases, therapy is also based on the severity of the injury in the presence of a torn muscle fiber. However, it is important to stop any sporting activity immediately and take a break in the event of a torn muscle fiber. The treatment of the torn muscle fiber is based on the so-called PECH scheme.
The so-called PECH rule is the abbreviation for the sequence of treatment steps for first aid for a torn muscle fiber:
Break - Ice - Compression - Elevation.
Break means that any sporting activity must be stopped immediately. Then the affected muscle should be cooled, an elastic pressure bandage should be applied against the swelling and the injured area should be elevated. However, in the event of a torn muscle fiber, it is usually unavoidable that you have to refrain from sport for a long time after the immediate measures of the PECH rule.
The complete regeneration of a torn muscle fiber can take a few weeks to several months, a training break should be observed in any case during this time.
How long the break lasts should be decided by a doctor and depends on various factors.
The healing process of the injured muscle depends, among other things, on the age of the person affected and on the exact location of the muscle fiber tear.
If the sports break is not observed and the muscle is stressed too early, consequential damage may occur.
Calcifications in the muscles or a complete muscle tear can develop.
The break should generally be observed as long as acute symptoms are still felt in the affected muscle.
After the break from training, careful exercise should be started and care should be taken not to train beyond the pain.
For example, sports such as cycling or swimming are suitable for slow training.
Fast and jerky movements, on the other hand, should be avoided (for example in football, volleyball, tennis) as doing so could result in serious injury.
It is advisable to slowly and steadily increase the load depending on your own pain sensation. The break can be ended when no discomfort is felt and there is complete freedom from pain. Only at this point in time can the muscles be expected to perform their usual sporting activities again.
Even the immediately initiated first aid (including a break from any sporting activity) plays a central role in muscle fiber tear therapy. In addition, the first aid already has a major influence on the duration of the healing process and the development of any persistent consequential damage. Failure to provide appropriate first aid could result in bleeding from injured vessels into the muscle mass. The resulting hematomas (bruises) within the muscle can induce the formation of scar tissue and thus hinder the natural movement and significantly reduce resilience.
Complications
At Torn muscle fibers and tears it comes - due to the rupture to inter- or intramuscular bleeding and thus to the formation of hematomas.
In the case of heavy bleeding, the injury area does not form (Completely) back. Connective tissue grows into the bruise and it develops into it Scar platewhich - as already described above - is not as elastic as the muscle tissue.
Thus the muscle is made up of many areas with different elasticity: muscle areas, muscle fibers that have newly formed and are shorter, scar tissue that is less elastic ...
For this reason, the muscle's ability to contract and exert force is considerably reduced compared to the period before the injury and is also more prone to new injuries, especially new ones Torn muscle fibers, torn muscles or Secondary bleeding in the newly regenerated area. Under certain circumstances, the patient is still not free of symptoms even after the disease has completely healed.
This is mostly due to the pronounced scar tissue or calcifications in the area of the injury, which in rare cases even has to be surgically removed.
There are other classic complications that arise after a Torn hamstring or Muscle tear may occur. Two classic clinical pictures after such a disease are discussed below.
They are:
- Myositis ossificans:
Damage to the muscle as a result of muscle fiber tears or tears, severe muscle contusions or bruises and the resulting intra- or intermuscular bleeding can lead to inadequate treatment or, for example, if it starts too early massage (see above), training that starts too early, etc. can capsule the injury.
As a result, the Muscle inflammation chronic and there is a transformation of the muscles and finally calcium deposits, which under certain circumstances slowly ossify. Similar to the formation of scar tissue, the ossification in the muscle creates areas with different extensibility and contractility.
The result is a different contracting force of the muscle and thus an increased risk of injuries in these areas occurring again. In cases of verifiable ossification (x-ray diagnosis), a surgical intervention may be considered. There is a risk of further ossification caused by the operation.
- Formation of cysts:
Cysts are sac-like growths closed by a capsule with a liquid content. In the area of muscle injuries, cyst formation occurs when capsules form around an unabsorbed bruise. Inside is then the undegraded blood of the original hematoma. If the cyst is bothersome, it may have to be surgically removed.
In particular, if the bruise is still fluid or consists of pure wound fluid (seroma), it should be punctured.
Hamstring and homeopathy
A torn muscle fiber can of course also through homeopathy can be supported. Read our topic: Hamstring and homeopathy.
Torn muscle fiber in the calf
A crack of one or more Muscle fiber bundles in the calf is a common sports injury caused by direct Violence (e.g. kick in the calf) or sudden Overload (e.g. strain when jumping off) is caused.
Often a shooting calf pain or even a palpable tearing is felt. Sometimes there is pain in the calf after a few hours.
The Go and the Toe stand are very painful or impossible.
In the first time after the injury, a dent can often be felt at the injury site, and one later swelling the calf.
Elevating the leg and treating it immediately with ice and elastic bandages can relieve discomfort and prevent swelling.
A torn calf muscle should be examined by a doctor, especially if there is pain or swelling in the calf area after exercise or an accident.
A Ultrasound examination can be used to show the bruise and allows it to be demarcated from one Blood clots in a calf vein (thrombosis) and one Compartment syndrome.
Both diseases also lead to painful (but mostly too harder) Swelling in the calf area.
It is recommended to warm up sufficiently before exercising and to avoid heavy loads on the calf muscles such as sprinting or jumping in the first 30 to 60 minutes after starting training, as this is the case Strains and Ruptured muscle fibers can be prevented.
Torn muscle fiber in the thigh
Torn muscle fibers in the thigh are typical sports injuries in sports where Slow down and Accelerate alternate and in which the speed of the thigh muscles is required.
This includes ball sports such as soccer and squash, but also running and especially the short-distance sprint, because when sprinting, the entire thigh muscles are suddenly tense and then extremely stressed.
If such a muscle injury to the thigh is suspected, a doctor should be consulted, depending on the extent of the muscle damage conservative or operative Initiate treatment.
The muscle fiber tear in the thigh is usually caused by a violent one pain and strong Restrictions on movement noticeable.
Regular stretching After sporting activities, it can help to avoid torn muscle fibers in the thigh, as the muscles become more flexible and thus more resilient.
A torn hamstring is very painful and often very painful tedious. In any case, you should wait until there are no more symptoms or pain before resuming sporting activities.
Torn muscle fiber in the buttocks
Muscle fiber tears in the buttocks often occur when moving beyond the physiological level, when the muscles are not yet warmed up. It is characterized by a strong, stabbing pain in the affected area. Often a swelling or a bruise occurs as a result of the injury to tissue and small vessels. First of all, you should protect the affected area and cool it to relieve the symptoms. The torn muscle fiber should be healed after about 6 weeks.
Further information on the subject can be found at: Torn muscle fiber in the buttocks
Torn muscle fiber in the shoulder
The causes of a torn muscle fiber in the shoulder are suddenly occurring maximum loads on the shoulder muscles (even in cold weather or after insufficient warm-up).
Strong accelerations or combinations Acceleration- and Decelerating movements can to Strains or Cracks lead in the shoulder muscles (Eg turning and flapping movements in baseball).
Acutely occurring, stabbing pain usually force the person affected to immediately stop the movement and do a Relieving posture of the arm.
Subsequently, the area around the torn muscle fiber swells within a short time and a (not always visible) bruise.
An important measure in the event of a torn muscle fiber in the shoulder is to protect the shoulder muscles.
It should be ensured that the shoulder and arm are not completely immobilized, but (in the beginning mostly passive) is moved slightly to bond the Shoulder joint capsule to avoid.
Medication can be helpful Relieve pain or reduce muscle tension.
Also physiotherapy measures can be used in a supportive manner to loosen adhesions, increase blood flow, loosen muscles and relieve symptoms.
Torn hamstring upper arm
A torn muscle fiber is particularly common Athletes before, however, can also occur in patients who rarely exercise and keep their muscles in an acute situation overload.
A torn muscle fiber in the upper arm can on the one hand Heavyweight lifters occur, but can also occur quite commonly in everyday life, for example when you lift a box with one arm and underestimate the weight. Especially unheated Muscles tear particularly quickly. If the muscle fiber tears in the upper arm, the patient feels a sudden, very strong pain that feels rather stinging. It is important to always have one, especially with the left arm Heart attack to think about, especially in the elderly. Compared to a heart attack, however, a torn muscle fiber also forms one Water retention (Edema) and in addition there is a Hemorrhage (Hematoma) in the affected area, there is also a direct temporal relationship between the overload of the upper arm and the torn muscle fiber.
If there is a torn muscle fiber in the upper arm, the patient should always do so immediately cool and then do not burden, that means carrying shopping bags for approx 4 weeks should only be done with the sound arm.
Torn muscle fiber in the back
A torn muscle fiber is particularly common Athletes always when the muscle is overloaded or is stretched too much after insufficient warming up and the elasticity of the muscle fibers is exceeded.
A Torn muscle fiber in the back occurs particularly often in patients who like to ins Gym go and do various back exercises here. But muscle fiber tears can also occur in patients who have to lift a lot of heavy objects due to their work, be it on the construction site or in the hospital for patients. A torn muscle fiber in the back is very rare because the so-called autochthonous back muscles represents a very stable holding muscles that are used to shouldering heavy loads. Muscle strains in the area of the back, on the other hand, are much more common because many patients overload their back muscles, sometimes even unconsciously. Nevertheless, in the event of severe and persistent back pain, a doctor should be consulted so that he can look at the muscles and decide whether it is, as is usually the case, a muscle strain in the back or whether there actually was a torn muscle fiber in the back muscles.
Torn muscle fiber in the abdomen
In rare cases it can also be am belly develop a ruptured muscle fiber. This only happens with very heavy loads, such as in the pregnancy or by very strong ones to cough. Such a crack can turn out to be great in therapy tedious shape, as the abdominal muscles are always in use during everyday movements and can therefore be spared only with great difficulty.
Further information can be found on our website Torn muscle fiber in the abdomen.
Torn hamstring and bruise
A ruptured muscle fiber is not only an injury to individual muscle fibers within a muscle, but also the surrounding ones Blood vessels damaged.
These blood vessels ensure that the muscle fibers are supplied with oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. If the blood vessels are injured when the muscle fiber ruptures, blood enters the surrounding tissue and leads to the formation of a Bruise (Hematoma).
The bruise does not necessarily have to be visible from the outside, as the muscle fiber tear can be located in different places in the muscle. When muscle fibers that lie just under the skin are torn, the bruise is usually the result two to three days visible after the injury.
However, the torn muscle fiber can also be located deep inside a muscle, in which case the bruise cannot be seen from the outside.
Nevertheless, the localization of the muscle fiber tear can usually be determined without the visible bruise. In some cases there are palpable structural changes in the form of a Dent or gap in the muscle, in other cases imaging tests come like Magnetic tomography (MRI, magnetic resonance) or Ultrasonic (Sonography) for use.
The bruise shouldn't come through too soon Massages treated as the bruise cells grow too bony Cells can transform and turn it into a kind of ´´ossification´´ (Myositis Ossificans) can come within the muscle.
This can lead to significant functional disorders of the muscle. In the case of severe injuries to a muscle, it may be necessary to educate Operative bruise to remove so that the torn muscle can heal at all. The muscles are tight Muscular skins this prevents the bruise from spreading and increases the pressure in the muscular membranes. This can lead to a Compartment syndrome lead, a condition that can lead to neuromuscular disorders or tissue and organ damage if the pressure is not surgically timely relieved becomes.
Summary
In sports they occur quite often Injuries in the field of Musculature on. The most common forms of muscle injury are
- Pulled muscles
- the muscle fiber tears and
- of the Muscle tear
to an individually different extent. All three types of injuries mentioned can be traced back to a muscular disorder with simultaneous occurrence of muscular decompensation, for example in the form of muscle fatigue.
One speaks of one Muscle strainwhen the muscle is stretched beyond its natural extent. The anatomical structure of the muscle changes in one strain Not. Only when about this Muscle strain away the force or the load on the muscle continues to be exceeded, injuries such as Tears in muscle fibers, tears in muscle bundles or even Torn muscles a.
In the case of a ruptured muscle fiber, the very small ones tear Muscle fibers a, while a muscle tear is completely severed as such. Since the muscle as such is quite resilient, muscle tears only occur when the muscle under maximum stress and was usually already damaged.
All of the injuries described above must be attributed to malfunctions in the muscles, such as muscle fatigue, imbalance in the metabolism or overload as a result of faulty communication between nerve tracts and muscles. Muscle strain, Torn hamstring and Muscle tear represent one and the same muscle injury, which only differs in the severity of the injury.
