Torn hamstring
and Carola Felchner, science journalistMartina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
More about the experts
Carola Felchner is a freelance writer in the medical department and a certified training and nutrition advisor. She worked for various specialist magazines and online portals before becoming a freelance journalist in 2015. Before starting her internship, she studied translation and interpreting in Kempten and Munich.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.When a muscle fiber tears, one or more fibers in a muscle tear. The reason is strong muscle strain, for example when playing football or tennis. The torn muscle fiber is noticeable with a sudden, sharp pain. The affected muscle can no longer be loaded to the maximum. Read more about the topic here: How does a muscle fiber tear develop? What are the symptoms? What to do if there is a ruptured muscle fiber?
Brief overview
- Symptoms: sudden, stabbing pain, possibly bruising; Loss of strength in the affected muscle, restriction of movement
- Causes: extreme stress, e.g. B. by jerky movements, abrupt stopping. Often happens in sports like tennis or soccer. Risk factors include a lack of fitness, wrong shoes, muscular inequalities, and infections.
- Diagnostics: consultation with the patient (anamnesis), physical examination, possibly ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI)
- Treatment: Acute measures include pausing, cooling, applying pressure bandages and elevating the injured part of the body. The doctor can prescribe pain medication and physiotherapy. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
- Prognosis: A torn muscle fiber usually heals without consequences. But that takes several weeks.
Torn hamstring: symptoms
A ruptured muscle fiber is accompanied by sudden, knife-prick pain. The affected muscle is restricted in its function and can no longer be subjected to maximum stress. The patient can no longer continue the sporting activity that led to the injury. The natural sequence of movements is disturbed. Most of the time, those affected assume a relief posture. When they try to contract the injured muscle against resistance, pain occurs. There are also pressure and stretching pains.
Immediately after the injury, a visible and palpable dent can appear in the affected area - especially if not only muscle fibers are torn, but the entire muscle has been severed (muscle tear). However, since the tissue usually swells, the dent will soon no longer be noticeable.
Sometimes a visible bruise (hematoma) forms at the site of the muscle fiber tear.
The symptoms described are all the more pronounced, the more serious the muscle injury is - i.e. if more than one fiber, a fiber bundle or even the entire muscle is torn.
Torn hamstring: causes and risk factors
When a muscle fiber tears, the smallest structural units of the muscle are destroyed: the muscle fibers. These are long, cylindrical cells with a large number of cell nuclei. Depending on the muscle and strain, they can be up to 30 centimeters long and between ten and 100 micrometers thick. Ten to 20 muscle fibers each form a muscle fiber bundle that is surrounded by connective tissue. A skeletal muscle consists of several such muscle fiber bundles.
This is how a muscle is built
A sudden overload of the muscle can tear muscle fibers. Overloading means: A force acts on the muscle that is greater than the force of the muscle itself. The muscle cannot withstand this excessive force - tissue tears. This can happen, for example, with several long sprints, sudden stops, rapid changes of direction, when the muscles are tired, untrained or extremely stressed. Depending on the extent of the resulting muscle damage, one speaks of:
- Torn muscle fiber: One or (mostly) several fibers of a muscle tear. This often results in bleeding (bruise) into the tissue. A torn muscle fiber often affects the thigh (quadriceps femoris) and calf muscles (gastrocnemicus).
- Muscle bundle tear: In this form of muscle damage, entire fiber bundles are injured.
- Muscle tear: The most serious consequence of muscle overload. When a muscle ruptures, the entire muscle is completely severed. It is then no longer functional.
If the acting force only slightly overloads the muscle, it is only stretched, but not torn. A muscle strain (also painful) develops.
Injuries such as a torn muscle tend to happen during sports - in fact, a torn muscle is one of the most common sports injuries. Sports that require sudden, rapid accelerations and stops are particularly risky. These include football, handball, tennis, squash and short-distance sprints. Direct trauma (like kicking the calf) can also cause a ruptured muscle fiber. Usually, however, it arises without any external force.
Risk factors for torn muscle fibers & Co.
Various factors favor torn muscle fibers, muscle bundles, muscle tears or a simple strain. These include, for example:
- tired or insufficiently warmed up or elastic muscles
- impaired coordination of movements
- muscular imbalance in extremities or spine
- inadequate training condition / lack of fitness
- previous injuries not healed
- unusual ground conditions
- cold weather
- wrong shoes
- Lack of fluids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements
- Infections (such as glandular fever)
- Taking preparations for rapid muscle building (anabolic steroids)
Torn hamstring: treatment
In the event of a torn muscle fiber or more severe muscle damage (muscle bundle tear, muscle tear), first aid measures according to the PECH scheme should be initiated as soon as possible:
- P as in pause: Break off sporting activity, immobilize the injured extremity.
- E for ice: Cool the injured area for ten to 20 minutes with an ice pack or a cold compress.
- C as in Compression: Apply a compression bandage.
- H as in elevation: the torn muscle fiber often affects the upper arm, thigh or calf. The injured limb should be elevated so that less blood flows into the injured tissue.
These measures are aimed at stopping bleeding into the tissue, reducing pain and swelling, and preventing further damage. If possible, the tissue should not heat up and should not be massaged. Both of these can lead to increased bleeding.
Torn muscle fiber: therapy at the doctor
The doctor may prescribe non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory pain relievers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or diclofenac for a torn muscle. A dosed physical therapy (lymph drainage, cold therapy, etc.) can promote the regeneration of the injured muscle. As soon as the symptoms recede, physiotherapy should be started. Functional exercises that increasingly stress the affected muscle are recommended. Sometimes the therapist applies a special tape bandage to the injured area.
Exercises to treat a torn muscle should not cause pain!
A large bruise in the tissue may need to be punctured. The doctor inserts a hollow needle into the bruise so that the blood either drains off by itself or can be suctioned off (drainage).
If there is a pronounced torn muscle fiber or a muscle bundle tear or a complete muscle tear, an operation may be necessary. The torn muscle parts are sewn. The surgeon uses suture material for this, which dissolves itself over time and is absorbed by the body.
Torn hamstring: examinations and diagnosis
If you suspect a torn muscle fiber, you should go to your family doctor or a sports doctor straight away. He will first inquire about the symptoms and the mechanism of the injury (taking the medical history = anamnesis). Possible questions are:
- Where did the injury happen?
- How long ago was that?
- Where exactly do the complaints occur?
Then the physical exam follows. The doctor examines the injured area for any muscle dimples or swelling. He checks whether stretching and straining the muscle causes pain and whether the muscle has lost any of its strength.
The diagnosis of torn muscle fibers can be supported by means of ultrasound (sonography) and, if necessary, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, magnetic resonance imaging). In addition, the doctor can use the imaging procedure to identify any bleeding into the tissue. If there is a suspicion that a bone has also been injured, this can be checked by means of an X-ray examination.
Torn muscle fiber: course and prognosis
There are generally no complications with a ruptured muscle fiber. The injury usually heals without consequences. However, it takes time for a torn muscle to heal: Depending on the severity of the injury, you shouldn't do sports for two to six weeks. If a muscle tears, a break of four to eight weeks is recommended. If you strain the muscle before the muscle fiber tear (muscle bundle tear, muscle tear) has healed, a new injury (retraumatisation) can easily occur.
Torn hamstring: prevention
You can reduce the risk of muscle injury from overuse by warming up before exercising and doing regular exercises for a balanced statics / musculature. If necessary, endangered muscles can be supported with a bandage or a tape bandage - this may prevent a muscle fiber tear.
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