Muscle and tendon strains are stretches or tears that occur in your muscle tissue or in the connective tissue that anchors your muscles to your bones. The severity of these injuries can vary greatly. If you have a strained muscle or tendon, you may benefit from working with a physical therapist during your recovery. Ask your doctor if you need a physical therapist to recover from your specific injury.
Types of Strains
Strains only occur in your muscles and tendons. Similar injuries that occur in your ligaments, which connect bone to bone, are called sprains. Strains commonly occur when you twist or pull a muscle or tendon beyond its maximum capacity. Minor strains will simply stretch your muscles or tendons, while moderate and severe strains will result in partial or complete tears of your affected tissues. Depending on your circumstances, you can develop a strain as a result of a single, traumatic injury, or you may develop a strain gradually over time as a result of overuse of your tendons or muscles.
Therapy Needs
Initial treatment for a strained muscle or tendon centers on reducing any symptoms of inflammation and pain. Methods commonly used at this stage include nonprescription or prescription anti-inflammatory medications and the RICE protocol. The RICE acronym stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. After resting your injured area, you need to treat it with ice or another cold source, use a compression bandage or wrap to reduce swelling, and elevate your injured area above the level of your heart. If you have a severe strain, you may also need surgery to repair your damaged tissue. After your pain and swelling diminish, your doctor can evaluate your situation and determine whether you need physical therapy.
Assisting Your Recovery
A physical therapist can help you recover from a muscle or tendon strain by helping you improve the condition of your injury site and teaching you exercises that help you regain your strength and normal range of motion. The specific exercises you learn, and the frequency of your sessions with a therapist, will vary with the severity and location of your injury. For instance, if you strain a muscle in your abdomen, you may need to visit a physical therapist as many as six times in a three-week period. If you strain a biceps tendon, you may need physical therapy as many as 12 times in six weeks.
Assessing Your Recovery
As you near the end of your recovery, a physical therapist can also assess your health and help determine whether you're fit to return to certain activities. For instance, if you play sports, your therapist can help decide if you're well enough to withstand the physical stress of your preferred activity. In addition, your physical therapist can teach you how to modify your activities in ways that decrease your chances for future muscle or tendon strains.
