While muscle injuries fall into a few main categories, their causes are more varied. The origins of muscle damage are usually identified after symptoms arise following an instigating activity.
For instance, a muscle strain in the lower back might seem nonspecific to a patient, until it can be traced to a long stint of gardening or practice at the golf course driving range. Cuts, bruises, strains and tears can occur from accidental causes, muscle overuse or rough sports play.
Cuts
Accidental cuts that penetrate the skin ¼ inch or deeper may tear muscle tissue. The Mayo Clinic reports that stitching a wound closed allows minor muscle ruptures to heal on their own.
Falls
Accidental falls may causes intramuscular contusions, or bruises. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that muscle damage in which small blood vessels burst results in a bruise that is visible at the skin surface. Falls from high or low heights can produce muscle injuries, depending upon the distribution of weight when the body lands and how hard the surface is. Falls resulting from slips on poor footing, however, may result in acute muscle strains and bruises.
Blows
Body blows can also cause deep muscle damage, as the Cleveland Clinic notes. Close play in football, baseball or basketball, for instance, is a common source of contusion to the torso and extremities. Striking a solid object, such as hitting an open car door while riding a bike, can injure a muscle. Automobile collisions can cause acute muscle strains along with bruises when the passengers’ muscles recoil with a jerk, as in whiplash conditions.
Heavy Lifting
The NYU Langone Medical Center reports that acute strains to muscles often arise when a person lifts a weight that is beyond the strength capacity of a muscle group. Symptoms of acute muscle injuries develop quickly, so identifying the problematic movement is usually simple.
Overstretching
Another type of acute muscle strain occurs when the muscles are not ready for strenuous action or perform too much strenuous action in one day. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center, muscle damage occurs in these cases when the tissue fibers separate slightly or fully tear. These muscle injuries are common in housework activities and sports that involve running and jumping.
Repetitive Motion
The University of Buffalo Sports Medicine group notes that chronic overuse can damage muscles and tendons little by little, such as in tennis elbow and rotator cuff injuries. Chronic strain can occur from repeated actions such as serving in tennis, pitching a baseball, hammering nails or using data entry machines. These symptoms usually develop gradually but persist until treated.
