A strain is when a muscle overstretches and tears. This painful injury, also called a "pulled muscle," is often caused by an accident or improper or overuse of a muscle.
Strains are also caused by excessive physical activity or effort, improperly warming up before a physical activity, and poor flexibility. Other causes are related to sports, exercise, a sudden movement, or trying to lift something that is too heavy.
Symptoms of a muscle strain include pain, tightness, swelling, tenderness, and the inability to move the muscle very well.
Virtua's Sports Medicine Program offers comprehensive services for injury prevention, education, evaluation and advanced treatment of movement-related pain or injuries.
Virtua's Sports Medicine Program specializes in injuries to the knee, elbow, shoulder, hand and ankle. A variety of treatments are offered, including minimally-invasive techniques.
The program's three co-medical directors are board-certified orthopedic surgeons, fellowship-trained in sports medicine and specialize in the treatment and surgical management of sports medicine injuries. In addition, they treat activity-based pains and strains that keep patients from normal activities.