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Muscle strains are classified into three categories based on the level of damage caused to the muscle or tendon. A grade 1 strain is mild and usually heals readily, while grade 2 and 3 strains are more severe tearing of the muscle that may take months to heal. It is the grade 1 strain that athletes usually confuse as a muscle cramp. Symptoms of a grade 1 strain consist of muscle spasms, muscle weakness and mild pain that increase with intensity as the activity level increases. Proper treatment of a strain is to rest, ice, compress, and elevate the injured area (RICE). Resting the injured area allows the body time to heal, while ice along with compression and elevation helps to keep down swelling. When a strain is confused with a cramp, athletes immediately begin to stretch the area of concern. As the pain and spasms increase so does the athletes stretching. Stretching a strained muscle or tendon increases the damage by tearing more fibers and can increase a grade 1 tear to a grade 2 or 3. A muscle cramp is a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the legs. The exact cause of a leg cramp is not well understood, but there are some risk factors that are thought to contribute: muscle fatigue, excessive exercise, dehydration, medication, obesity, and electrolyte imbalance. The proper treatment for a cramp is to mildly stretch the muscle. In most cases the cramp will go away. If not, apply heat along with a massage to the irritated area. One of the most useful ways you can help prevent muscle cramps and spasms is to work on improving your overall general health and fitness. Improving your cardiovascular fitness will improve the delivery of blood to your muscles, which will ensure that they have adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients to function properly. Make sure whenever you exercise or participate in sporting events that you warm-up your muscles for at least 5 minutes with a brisk walk or bike, and stretch all muscle groups for at least 20 seconds. Remember, you should always seek medical advice from a physician for proper diagnosis of any injury. © Copyright XcelSportsMedicine.com Top of Page |
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