Types of Muscle Strains
Muscle strains are common injuries in sports and results from an injury or strain of a muscle or its attaching tendons. A tendon is a tough, fibrous cord of tissue that connects muscles to bone. There are two types of muscle strains:
Symptoms
Sports activities such as football, basketball, hockey, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, tennis, rowing, golf-sports, racquet, throwing and contact sports place participants at greater risk for strain. The symptoms of a strain include:
Causes
Back strains occur when the muscles supporting the spine (back bone) are twisted, pulled or torn. Athletes involved in excessive jumping as in basketball or volley ball are more susceptible to back strain.
Hamstring muscle strains occur when there is a tear in one or more of the muscles at the back of the thigh. It is caused by imbalance between the hamstrings and the muscles in the front of the thigh. Sports that commonly cause a hamstring injury are sprinting sports such as track and field, soccer and basketball, all of which involve sudden accelerations.
Treatment
Most sprains and strains will repair themselves with adequate rest, ice application, compression, and elevation (RICE). In case of severe injury, a brace or splint may be used to immobilize the area and prevent further injury. Surgery is occasionally required to repair the ruptured muscle or torn ligament.
The following tips can help reduce the risk of developing muscle strains: