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Abdominal Strain
An injury involving stretching, twisting or tearing of muscles is called strain. The muscles are often overstretched during forceful or vigorous activity. By abdominal muscle strain we generally mean "pulled" abdominal muscle which is associated with injury to one of the muscles of the abdominal wall as a result of overstretching.
How does Abdominal Strain occur?
Abdominal strain often results from forceful and vigorous activity like lifting a heavy object. Though the strain mostly results in microscopic tears within the muscle, severe injuries occasionally lead to rupture of muscle from its attachment. As weight lifters, throwers, gymnasts, rowers, wrestlers and pole vaulters often receive severe injuries during sports activities, ruptures have become common problem for them.
Symptoms of Abdominal Strain:
The strain usually causes soreness and inflammation on an area of the rectus abdomens. A sudden sharp pain is felt in the injured muscles of abdomens indicating rupture. The pain makes it hard to flex the muscle. The pain intensifies with the contraction of abdominal muscles. Sometimes muscle injury causes swelling and bruising.
First aid for Abdominal Strain:
- Take rest to get relief from pain.
- Apply heat on the injured portion with a hot water bottle or electric heating belt. It would be better, if heat is applied after first 48 hours of injury.
- In case of acute pain you should apply ice on the injured area after first 48 hours after injury.
- Consult a doctor who can prescribe anti-inflammatory medication.
- Visit sports injury specialist who can suggest some exercises for quick recovery.
- Do not go back to exercise till injures muscles healed.
Prevention of Abdominal Strain
Toning up the abdominal muscles prior to participating in sports activities is one of the effective steps for the prevention of abdominal strain.
This can be done through warm ups such as running, doing sit-ups and abdominal crunches. Warm ups can be done with the help of treadmills, stationary bikes, steppers or any other fitness equipments or abdominal exercise machines. Warm-ups bring the body in motion and make it unsusceptible to injuries.
However, overstraining should be avoided particularly by those who are beginners and are starting exercise programme.
While lifting dumbbells or any other heavy objects in a gym you should make sure that your knees are bent and your back and abdomen are straight. It would be better if heavy objects are lifted under supervision of your gym coach.
When to see a doctor?
- If symptom like severe groin puabdominal strain appear.
- If injury makes it difficult to walk, sit or sleep or disrupts normal activities.
- In case of uncertainty or symptoms do not disappear soon. In such a case physicians and physical therapists can provide proper directions and advice for speedy recovery. The modalities like ultrasound, therapeutic massage and some specific exercises often turn out to be helpful.