Muscle strains: How long will I be out for?

 

Muscle strains are the stretching or tearing of muscle fibres or its attaching tendon. They can happen in a variety of ways, however most often occur during sporting activities, particularly those that require sprinting and changes of direction. Muscle strains are generally graded based on their severity.

  • Grade 1: minor injury with damage to less than 10% of the muscle fibres. You will often have close to full movement and strength, with only minor pain.

  • Grade 2: more significant damage/tearing of the muscle fibres but not complete rupture. These strains will be considerably more painful, and you will have a loss of both movement and strength.

  • Grade 3: complete rupture of the tissue/muscle fibres. This may cause complete loss of muscle function, as well as considerable pain, swelling and bruising.

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One of the first questions we get with any patient that has a muscle strain is ‘when can I return to playing?’. There are many factors which can affect the amount of recovery time required, such as which muscle you have strained, your age, your injury history, your level of fitness and your type of sport. Below is a rough guide to the recovery times generally required.

  • Grade 1: 1-4 weeks recovery

  • Grade 2: 3-8 weeks recovery

  • Grade 3: 6 weeks to 3 months recovery

For a full assessment and a rehabilitation program to get you back on the field as soon as possible, call (07) 4723 2233 to book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists.

 
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