Abdominal Muscle Strain

This is an injury that damages the internal structure of the abdominal muscles. Strains are marked by rips or tears to a muscle. Most of the time, these rips or tears are tiny. They may cause some discomfort. When the damaged parts of the muscle pull away from each other, it is called a rupture.

This condition is caused by an overexertion of the abdominal muscle, which can happen when:

• Doing an activity that the muscle is not ready for
• Exercising excessively
• Improperly performing exercises or sports activities
• Lifting heavy objects
• Sharply twisting the body

These factors increase your chance of developing abdominal muscle strain:

• Being fatigued
• Exercising in cold weather
• Having weak back muscles
• Not stretching properly before exercising
• Overexerting muscles
• Participating in vigorous activity
• Performing exercises and sports activities incorrectly (especially running and jumping)

Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.

If you have any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to abdominal muscle strain. These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have any of these:

• Muscle pain or soreness immediately upon injury
• Muscle spasms
• Pain when touching the area
• Problems flexing or pain while stretching muscle
• Stiffness and discomfort
• Swelling or bruising (in severe cases)

If you have ruptured the muscle, you will feel intense pain.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. During the physical exam, she will look for:

• Pain, especially when the muscle is contracted
• Tenderness over the area of the muscle

The doctor will grade the strain depending on how badly injured you are:

• First degree—muscle fibers are injured; 2-3 weeks to recover
• Second degree—a larger amount of muscle fibers are injured; 3-6 weeks to recover
• Third degree—the muscle is ruptured, may require surgery; about 3 months to recover

• Take pain medicines as directed by your doctor. Examples include acetaminophen and ibuprofen . Also available are topical pain medicines (eg, creams, patches) that are applied to the skin.
• After the injury, stop the activity right way.
• Apply a cold pack for 15-20 minutes. Apply ice four times a day for 1-2 days.
• Ask your doctor when you can return to normal activity.
• Begin gentle stretching when pain subsides.
• If you do not improve in 1-2 days, call your doctor.
• Rest as needed.
• Use heat when returning to activity.
• When you are feeling better, do exercises to slowly regain strength.

To help reduce your chance of getting this condition, take the following steps:

• Learn how to properly lift heavy objects .
• Do exercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles. Work with a personal trainer or physical therapist.
• Do not overexert yourself while exercising.
• Get proper training for sports and exercises.
• If you are tired, stop exercising.
• Stretch before exercising and cool down after.

If you have a fever and abdominal pain, seek medical attention right away.