(Muscle Strain, Forearm; Pulled Muscle, Forearm)
Definition
Definition
A forearm muscle strain is a partial or complete tear of the small fibers of the forearm muscles. Forearm muscles allow you to extend and flex your wrist and fingers.
Muscles of the Hand and ForearmCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
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Causes
Causes
A forearm muscle strain is caused by:
- Stretching the forearm muscles beyond the amount of tension they can withstand
- Suddenly putting stress on the forearm muscles when they are not ready for stress
- Overusing the forearm muscles over time
- Getting a direct blow to the forearm muscles
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Factors increase your chance of developing forearm muscle strain include:
- Participation in sports that overuse the forearm
- Previous strain or injury to the area
- Muscle fatigue
- Weak or tired muscles
- Repetitive movements that strain the forearm muscles
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Problems flexing your fingers or wrist
- Pain while stretching the fingers or wrist
- Area feels tender and sore
- Muscle spasms
- Swelling
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Most forearm muscle strains can be diagnosed with a physical exam.
Images of the area may be needed if severe damage is suspected. Images may be taken with x-ray or MRI scan.
Muscle strains are graded according to their severity:
- Grade 1—Some stretching with micro tearing of muscle fibers
- Grade 2—Partial tearing of muscle fibers
- Grade 3—Complete tearing of muscle fibers.; this may also be called a rupture or avulsion
Treatment
Treatment
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Recovery time ranges depending on the grade of your injury. Treatment steps may include:
Supportive Care
Your muscle will need time to heal. RICE is often the main part of treatment:
- Rest—Activities will need to be restricted at first. Normal activities will be reintroduced gradually.
- Ice—Ice therapy may help relieve swelling. Heat or cold may be advised throughout recovery if they provide benefits.
- Compression—Used for a limited time, compression bandages can provide gentle pressure to help move fluids out of the area.
- Elevation—Keeping the area elevated can help fluids drain out or prevent fluids from building up.
Prescription or over-the-counter medications may be advised to reduce pain.
Prevention
Prevention
To help reduce your chance of getting forearm muscle strain, take the following steps:
- Use an ergonomic keyboard or workstation.
- Keep muscles strong. This will help them absorb the energy of sudden, stressful activities.
- Avoid over exercising.
- Learn the proper technique for sports.
- If you are feeling tired, stop exercising.
RESOURCES:
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.familydoctor.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine http://casem-acmse.org
References:
Johns Hopkins sports medicine patient guide to muscle strain. John Hopkins Medicine website. Available at:
http://www.hopkinsortho.org/muscle_strain.html
Accessed March 10, 2015.
Sprains, strains, and tears. American College of Sports Medicine website. Available at:
http://www.acsm.org/docs/brochures/sprains-strains-and-tears.pdf
Published 2011. Accessed March 10, 2015.
10/26/2010 DynaMed’s Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed:
Massey T, Derry S, Moore R, McQuay H. Topical NSAIDs for acute pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(6):CD007402.
Last Updated: 3/18/2013