Strains

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Muscle strain

Treatment for leg strain

Strains

Definition:

A strain is when a muscle becomes overstretched and tears. This painful injury, also called a "pulled muscle," can be caused by an accident, improper use of a muscle, or overuse of a muscle.

Alternative Names:

Pulled muscle

Causes:

Excessive physical activity or effort
Improperly warming up before a physical activity
Poor flexibility

References:

DeLee JC, Drez, Jr., D, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2^nd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2003.

Frontera, WR, Silver JK, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 1^st Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus; 2002.

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002.

Review Date: 6/8/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, MD, MSCE, Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Specialists, Bryn Mawr, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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