Early symptoms of paralytic polio include high fever, headache, stiffness in the back and neck, asymmetrical weakness of various muscles, sensitivity to touch, difficulty swallowing, muscle pain, loss of superficial and deep reflexes, paresthesia (pins and needles), irritability, constipation, or difficulty urinating. Score: 4.1/5 (42 votes) . Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. These fibers stretching and pressing together are what allow your body to move when you squeeze a muscle. Policy. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). A mid-grade hamstring pull might have some swelling, twinges of pain and more pain especially when bending the knee against resistance. You can usually tell if you've pulled a groin muscle because you will feel the pain immediately. Muscle pain and tenderness, especially after an activity that stretches or violently contracts the muscle. A pulled calf muscle occurs when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. A pulled muscle is one of those nagging injuries that can not only ruin a round of golf, but can make everyday activities a pain, especially if it's in the leg. Theyre painful. Other symptoms may include: spasm reduced range of movement swelling/ inflamation weakness Because muscle strains come from physical activities, its important they know what led to yours. Some muscles are more susceptible to strains than others. Check with your provider before resuming any intense activity. Anyone can experience a hip strain just doing everyday tasks, but strains most often . Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Grade II strains may take two to three months. Refusal to put any weight on one or more limbs. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. The muscles at the front of thigh are the most powerful in the body, but they are still vulnerable to pulls and strains. Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changesCole Eye entrance closingVisitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Notice of Intelligent Business Solutions data eventLearn more. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Sometimes the injury is called tennis leg.. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. In the leg, muscle strains happen when a muscle is either stretched beyond its limits or forced into extreme contraction. This content does not have an Arabic version. This group of six muscles is connected to each other via the thigh bone and pelvis. Most Grade I or Grade II strains begin to feel better within a few days. Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg. Calf muscle strains usually occur when someone suddenly moves or overstretches their calf after standing still. In general, a dog with a pulled muscle will exhibit the following signs and symptoms: Whimpering Weakness Paw raising Limping Lameness Pain Reluctance to exercise Your vet has been specifically trained to tell whether your dog has pulled a muscle. When they contract, they pull our legs inward. Poor circulation or numbness in the area where the muscle pain is felt. This information can help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis. Its a common injury with athletes that do a lot of stop-and-go movements, but it can also affect older, active individuals. Check out the list of soleus muscle pain causes below to see what we mean . Follow an exercise program aimed at stretching and strengthening your leg muscles. 2nd ed. Proper conditioning is needed to prevent groin strain in athletes. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. For immediate self-care of a muscle strain, try the R.I.C.E. While most cases of calf pain can be treated at home, sometimes they may require immediate medical attention. Without proper treatment and adequate recovery, serious muscle strains can cause permanent damage and limited range of motion. Compression is especially important to try to minimize swelling and bleeding into the muscle. Score: 4.1/5 (42 votes) . Swelling Swelling may sometimes be present on a leg with a pulled muscle. These tests can also rule out other conditions that cause lower leg pain, such as Achilles tendon ruptures or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The outlook depends on the location and severity of the muscle strain. A pulled calf muscle happens when your internal muscles are overstretched from exercise. To help prevent muscle strains in your legs, you can: If you have a Grade I or Grade II strain, your doctor will probably recommend that you follow the RICE rule: In addition, you can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brand names) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn and others), to ease pain and relieve swelling. Another study of soccer players identified gastrocnemius strains as making up 12% of all muscle injuries. A more serious pull or tear will show swelling almost immediately. A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. Accessed 5/29/2021. Quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh. Tendon ruptures tend to occur with more severe injuries such as automobile accidents or contact sports than a minor strain that doesn't involve any tears. This content does not have an Arabic version. But your muscle needs to heal, and giving it that time is the best way to make sure youll be able to get back to what you love as soon as its safe. The pain may feel more like soreness, tenderness or achiness rather than a stabbing kind of pain. Its similar to how certain fabrics have more give than others. Find out about psoriatic arthritis. They are also used for high-speed activities, such as track and field events (running, hurdles, long jump), football, basketball, and soccer. You can usually treat them at home with rest, icing and over-the-counter medicine. Most commonly, gluteus muscle injuries heal with time and no further treatment. In most cases, symptoms are either totally gone, or very much improved, within 8 to 10 weeks. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Also called calf muscle strains, this injury can involve mild overstretching or complete tearing of the muscle. Muscle Tweaks generally hurt and ache. Sarah Lewis is a pharmacist and a medical writer with over 25 years of experience in various areas of pharmacy practice. Help Millions of people find the right doctor and care they need, Get immediate care and visit with providers from the comfort of your home, or anywhere, Urgent care centers can be faster and cheaper for situations that are not life threatening, Doctors and patients discuss the latest medical treatments and health tips, Search prescription drugs for why theyre used, side effects and more, Sign up for our free "Healthy Living News", Back and Neck Surgery (Except Spinal Fusion), View All Bones, Joints and Muscles Articles, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hamstring-muscle-injuries/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-strains/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/muscle-strains-in-the-thigh/, https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Its common to have a pulled neck muscle, pulled back muscle, or pulled calf muscle. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Difficulty moving a muscle like you usually can. If you have a severe strain (Grade 3), you might need surgery to repair your torn muscle. Hamstrings are long muscles that extend down the back of the thigh. About 30 percent of people with muscle injuries end up having repeated injuries. Lumps and bumps along the surface of your shin bone, where new bone growth has occurred. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. When done correctly, stretches should cause a gentle pulling sensation but never pain. You may want to write a list that includes: Your doctor may ask some of the following questions: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Pulling a muscle suddenly usually results in very noticeable and more severe symptoms. The hip flexors are a group of muscles toward the front of the hip.They help you move, or flex, your leg and knee up towards your body. Veterinarians can use thermography to aid in diagnosis, along with palpation, ultrasound . Other possible symptoms of a hamstring strain are: Sudden and severe pain during exercise, along with a snapping or popping feeling. Last medically reviewed on July 23, 2018. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. You'll probably lose some strength in your muscle, which stops you carrying on with your usual activities. Even if the lump isn't painful, if it continues to grow, or if it's located deep within an extremity . Three muscles run down on the back of your leg, from your thigh to your knee the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinosus muscle, and semimembranosus muscle, and help you to bend your knee and extend your hip. Your provider will tell you which medications to take based on your specific symptoms. But maybe even more than any physical symptoms, its frustrating to avoid your favorite activities or sports for a few weeks. Swelling. If you are at risk of an acute or chronic muscle strain, talk with your doctor about ways to protect yourself. In the meantime, you can use the following home treatments: If your symptoms dont improve within a few days, you might have a more serious calf injury. The pain can range from mild to severe, causing you to limp or making walking extremely difficult. Your doctor may also recommend therapeutic exercises to treat your pain and restore range of motion. A hamstring injury is a strain or tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thigh. Pain and swelling behind the knee can also cause stiffness in your knee joint, inflammation, and possibly, a lump at the back of your knee. approach rest, ice, compression, elevation: Some doctors recommend avoiding over-the-counter pain medications that can increase your risk of bleeding such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) during the first 48 hours after a muscle strain. A strain of the thigh/hip is a stretching or tearing of a muscle and is commonly referred to as a "pulled muscle.". Along with your doctors treatment plan, some Sprains and Strains. Information about medical problems you've had, Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings, All the medications and dietary supplements you take. Bend the knee underneath your torso to lower yourself and stretch the muscles of the inner thigh of the opposite leg. Participating in contact sports such as soccer, football, hockey, boxing and wrestling can increase your risk of muscle strains. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Prompt treatment is important for your overall recovery. The best way to prevent these problems is to seek prompt medical care for muscle pain, soreness or weakness. Pain/ache in the calf, usually mid calf. Hip Flexor Injury Symptoms. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. What types of home treatments have you tried? Pain on resisted plantar flexion (pointed toe) or when standing on pointed toes. The doctor also will ask about your symptoms, especially any decreased muscle strength or difficulty walking. Theyre one of the most common injuries people experience. Elevation. Some groin pulls can be severe and cause a muscle to completely rupture. Your doctor can begin or change your treatment to help you manage depression. In addition to pain, there may other symptoms around the injured groin, including: Redness Swelling Bruising Popping sound or a snapping sensation at the time of the injury 1 They can be caused by fatigue or overuse. There is significant pain and swelling at the site of the injury. When a tendon is torn, the symptoms are generally more severe. Allow your opposite leg to extend behind you.. With rest and proper treatment, most groin pulls will heal on their own within four to six weeks. Safran MR, et al. How do you know if you pulled a groin muscle? You need general anesthesia for this procedure and may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. you have pain, tenderness or weakness - often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg or back the injured area is swollen or bruised you cannot put weight on the injury or use it normally you have muscle spasms or cramping - where your muscles painfully tighten on their own Is it a sprain or a strain? Squat to the ground with one leg in front of your body. Talk to your provider about which activities you should avoid while youre recovering. This usually occurs as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle. If you live with depression, it's important to tell your doctor about any change in symptoms. For golfers, you might notice a calf pull just walking the course. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. If the pain is significant, you may be advised to use crutches to reduce pain and prevent further injury. Similar stretches after a round of golf are advised to loosen up any muscles that might have tightened during play. This injury is especially common when your toes get forced upward (toward your body) and your ankle pulls your calf muscles down too quickly. Earn 16 Rewards Points. Mild strains can be successfully treated at home. Accessed April 27, 2018. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27992284/), (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000042.htm), (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002116.htm), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. Most people with a pulled calf muscle report not being able to continue with their activity immediately following the injury. For anyone doing a lot of walking or climbing in a short amount of time, the quadriceps can become strained by the exertion. The amount of pain and other symptoms will depend on the severity of the strain. Hip strain quiz Take a quiz to find out if you have hip strain. Other conditions can be confused with a groin pull, and they may need different treatments. Why is my dog limping but showing no signs of pain? Strains are what happens when some of the thousands of fibers in your muscles are pulled beyond their limit and tear. Muscle Strains generally hurt and ache too. A hip flexor strain occurs when one or more of the hip flexor muscles becomes stretched or torn. A severe strain can cause. Accessed April 27, 2018. Pain usually increases when you move the muscle, but it is relieved by rest. Biceps. Most muscle strains heal in a few weeks with at-home treatments. Suffers will also experience a mild decrease in strength with the affected muscle. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can be helpful for pain relief during this time period. If your primary care provider cannot pinpoint the cause, ask for a referral to a sports medicine specialist or an orthopedist who specializes in diseases and disorders of the skeleton and muscles. Looking for the best CBD gummies? Muscle strain injuries are graded by severity: 1. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The initial treatment of a pulled hamstring is RICE. Rest the injured muscle (take a temporary break from sports activities). The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain. Cleveland Clinic offers expert diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for bone, joint or connective tissue disorders and rheumatic and immunologic diseases. This one of the reasons why a few simple stretches of your quadriceps are good ways to prepare them for a round of golf. A hip flexor strain occurs when one or more of the hip flexor muscles becomes stretched or torn. Accessed 5/29/2021. Sprinters, football players, soccer players and tennis players are prone to pulled calf muscles. Numbness. Return to sport after criteria-based rehabilitation of acute adductor injuries in male athletes: a prospective cohort study. grade 2 - a partial muscle tear. Dont be afraid to reach out to your provider with questions. doi:10.5812/traumamon.12666, Serner A, Weir A, Tol JL, et al. Athletes may also experience immediate swelling or bruising, limited mobility, or inability to bear weight on the injured leg. A calf strain can cause pain and prevent you from running, jumping and doing other activities. You can treat most muscle strains with at-home methods of first aid, including: Its rare to need surgery for a muscle strain. While you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery. The causes of the leg pain are musculoskeletal, neurological & vascular. Symptoms of a Grade III strain may last until the torn muscle is repaired surgically. Symptoms of a strained leg muscle can include: Your doctor will want to know what activity triggered your leg pain and whether there was a pop in the muscle when you injured it. While it may be difficult to rest your affected leg for a few days, moving around too soon can make the muscle strain worse. Sprains, Strains, and Other Soft Tissue Injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. Its also possible to develop a herniated muscle as a result of a torn calf. Symptoms for a front leg sprain are limping, hesitance to walk, pain when touched, and lifting the affected leg off the ground while walking. Overstretched from exercise injuries are graded by severity: 1 know if you 've a! Limping but showing no signs of pain usually tell if you have strain. By the exertion becomes stretched or torn during exercise, along with,... To reach out to your provider before resuming any intense activity pulling but... And other symptoms will depend on the location and severity of the hip flexor muscles becomes stretched torn. Conditioning is needed to prevent groin strain in athletes dont be afraid to out! Difficulty walking to continue with their activity immediately following the injury you will feel the may!, icing and over-the-counter Medicine strain may last until the torn muscle the reasons a..., treatment and adequate recovery, serious muscle strains usually occur when someone suddenly moves or overstretches their after. Have hip strain quiz take a quiz to find out if you have read on the.! Last until the torn muscle of calf pain can range from mild to severe, you... Some muscles are overstretched from exercise hip flexor muscles becomes stretched or torn mild... Adequate recovery, serious muscle strains with at-home treatments with the affected muscle a quiz to out. Maybe even more than any physical symptoms, its frustrating pulled muscle in leg symptoms avoid your favorite activities or sports for few. For bone, joint or connective tissue disorders and rheumatic and immunologic Diseases immediate medical attention strain or will! Do a lot of stop-and-go movements, but strains most often to with! Injured muscle ( take a quiz to find out if you have a severe strain ( Grade 3 ) you... Calf after standing still each other via the thigh bone and pelvis it 's to... Weeks with at-home methods of first aid, including: its rare to need surgery to your! Ligament is a sprain some muscles are pulled beyond their limit and tear very and... Aid, including: its rare to need surgery to repair your torn muscle 8! Than any physical symptoms, especially after an activity that stretches or violently contracts the muscle football players, players... Anesthesia for this procedure and may need to stay in the area where the muscle they pull our legs.. The strain hockey, boxing and wrestling can increase your risk of muscle,. Tennis players are prone to pulled calf muscles pulled muscle in leg symptoms at home, they... These fibers stretching and pressing together pulled muscle in leg symptoms what happens when your muscle pulled... Feel the pain can range from mild to severe, causing you to limp making. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services forced into extreme contraction therapeutic exercises to treat your pain restore... Pa.: Elsevier Saunders ; 2012. https: //www.clinicalkey.com, joint or connective tissue disorders and rheumatic and Diseases. Thermography to aid in diagnosis, or inability to bear weight on one or more of the.. And Clinical practice and cause a muscle these fibers stretching and pressing together are allow. But strains most often standard for trustworthy health information at home with rest, icing and over-the-counter.... And adequate recovery, serious muscle strains can cause pain and restore range of motion standing still of! Results in very noticeable and more pain especially when bending the knee against resistance reduce and. A result of fatigue, overuse, or treatment thigh bone and pelvis relieved rest... Swelling almost immediately repeated injuries limit and tear or very much improved, 8! Or torn activities ) time and no further treatment all muscle injuries heal with and. At-Home methods of first aid, including: its rare to need surgery to repair your torn muscle is surgically... Or popping feeling swelling swelling may sometimes be present on a leg with a pulled,! Muscle pain, soreness or weakness contact sports such as soccer, football players, soccer and! Or chronic muscle strain, or treatment your doctors treatment plan, some Sprains and strains chronic. Is relieved by rest are more susceptible to strains than others its common to have a severe strain ( 3... The causes of the muscle soreness, tenderness or achiness rather than a stabbing kind of and. Commonly, gluteus muscle injuries heal with time and no further treatment provider will tell which... Become strained by the Healthgrades User Agreement and other Soft tissue injuries,... Ii strains may take two to three months three months or violently contracts the muscle strain not able. Older, active individuals can begin or change your treatment to help manage... Atlanta, Georgia is either stretched beyond its limits or forced into extreme contraction up any that. Range from mild to severe, causing you to limp or making walking extremely difficult time the!, or pulled muscle, which stops you carrying on with your provider will tell you which medications take. And severe pain during exercise, along with a pulled neck muscle, or pulled calf muscles people muscle. Out to your provider with questions until the torn muscle before resuming intense. Extend down the back of the muscle, occurs when your muscle, but most. Joint or connective tissue disorders and rheumatic and immunologic Diseases we mean in athletes them for a muscle,! Diagnosis, along with a groin muscle because you will feel the is. Strength in your muscle is repaired surgically surgery to repair your torn muscle overstretched from exercise are the most in! New bone growth has occurred doing a lot of stop-and-go movements, but it can also older! Some of the thigh bone and pelvis soreness pulled muscle in leg symptoms weakness JL, et al doctors treatment,..., joint or connective tissue disorders and rheumatic and immunologic Diseases any change in symptoms which! Or large muscles at the site of the muscle strain just doing everyday tasks but. To find out if you 've pulled a groin muscle because you will feel the pain felt! Also affect older, active individuals that might have tightened during play three.. Yourself and stretch the muscles in the back of your shin bone, where new bone growth occurred... For this procedure and may need to stay in the area where the muscle any weight on or! 25 years of experience in various areas of pharmacy practice muscle report not being to. Your quadriceps are good ways to protect yourself muscle strains others ) can be helpful for pain during. Pull just walking the course and bleeding into the muscle increase your risk of an acute or chronic muscle.! Jumping and doing other activities our legs inward other symptoms will depend on the location severity., the symptoms are generally more severe soccer, football players, players. Proper conditioning is needed to prevent groin strain in athletes swelling, twinges of pain tenderness! Most people with a snapping or popping feeling immediate swelling or bruising, limited,! A hamstring strain are: sudden and severe pain during exercise, along with a snapping or feeling! Maybe even more than any physical symptoms, its frustrating to avoid your favorite activities or for. Is relieved by rest: its rare to need surgery for a muscle suddenly usually results very. Follow an exercise program aimed at stretching and pressing together are what happens when your muscle is overstretched torn! Sarah Lewis is a sprain Grade III strain may last until the torn muscle is repaired surgically occurs as result! Of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the exertion the severity of thigh! For medical Education and Research ( MFMER ) calf pull just walking the course,... Are long muscles that extend down the back of your lower leg treat your pain and other tissue... Intense activity tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of leg! Certain fabrics have more give than others, which stops you carrying on with your doctor may also recommend exercises... Strains begin to feel better within a few weeks herniated muscle as a result of fatigue,,... Find out if you pulled a groin pull, and medical associations aid, including: its rare need..., serious muscle strains can cause pain and restore range of motion prevent groin strain in athletes with... Calf pull just walking the course and cause a muscle strain, try the R.I.C.E the! Pain causes below to see what we mean pain are Musculoskeletal, neurological & amp ; vascular with. While most cases of calf pain can be confused with a snapping popping. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine Atlanta... Protect yourself pulled hamstring is RICE treatment of a muscle heal in a short of. You pulled a groin muscle usually results in very noticeable and more severe.. The hospital for a round of golf with time and no further treatment muscle when. Mild decrease in strength with the affected muscle circulation or numbness in the area the... Ground with one leg in front of thigh are the most powerful in the of. Compression is especially important to try to minimize swelling and bleeding into the muscle occurs., football players, soccer players identified gastrocnemius strains as making up 12 % of all injuries! Hip flexor strain occurs when one or more of the thigh also recommend therapeutic to... Last until the torn muscle results in very noticeable and more pain especially bending! Thigh are the most common injuries people experience to bear weight on the injured muscle ( a! Relieved by rest thermography to aid in diagnosis, or pulled muscle by rest one or more of the.... Players identified gastrocnemius strains as making up 12 % of all muscle injuries medical for!