Most muscle injury is caused by motions that make a muscle strain or stretch too hard. Housework, sports, accidental trauma and occupational labor are the main culprits behind muscle damage cases. Muscle tissue is composed of interlaced fibers that provide strength for movement. During a muscle strain, these fibers separate slightly or, in some cases, tear completely apart. The intramuscular blood vessels can also sustain traumatic damage.
Falls
A fall can cause muscle damage upon landing. A moderate or severe contusion, or bruise, may affect one or more muscles when the local blood vessels burst from impact with the ground or another object. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, an intramuscular bruise will show skin surface discoloration for days or months.
Slips
Acute muscle strain is a painful muscle injury that often occurs in the back or legs when a person slips, as the body is twisted or stretched to a greater than normal degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists slips as the second leading cause of occupational injuries to the muscles. Slips often precede falls as well.
Collisions
When the soft muscle tissue is struck with force or with heavy or hard objects, it can rupture. Muscle tears and broken blood vessels may be caused by blows from moving objects or impacts with hard surfaces. The Cleveland Clinic reports that acute muscle strain can occur from the jerking movements that passengers experience during automobile collisions. Sports injuries represent additional causes of this type of muscular damage.
Cuts
Cuts that are deep enough to wound or tear muscle tissue can be caused by accidental trauma or intentional open surgery. The Mayo Clinic notes that when cuts are properly closed with stitches, the muscle tissue will usually fuse and heal on its own.
Weight and Force Stress
Acute muscle damage often occurs when lifting too heavy a weight or using a muscle beyond the limits of its capacity, such as in overstretching during a reach or jump. As the New York University Langone Medical Center reports, when individuals attempt more strenuous activity than usual, they are at risk for muscle injury from strain.
Repetitive Stress
Chronic muscle injury develops when a muscle is used for the same movements very frequently in a day, or continually over time. Activities such as data entry or carpentry work entail repetitive motions that place stress on distinct muscles or muscle groups. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine also lists movements associated with tennis, swimming, baseball, running and other sports as prime causes for overuse damage to muscles.
