Muscle strains and strains are very common among many people, and they can range from very minor to very severe. Almost any muscle in the body is at risk for becoming pulled, although there are certain muscles that are more susceptible to injury than others. Anyone can have a pulled muscle, but pulled muscles are often found in those who play sports, lift heavy weights, or those who are frequently sedentary but then attempt to do periodic stressful activities. There are numerous treatments to help recover pulled muscles, as well as prevention techniques to avoid injury in the future, but each injury requires slightly different treatments as they affect the body differently. Anatomy and Description When a person has a pulled muscle in their back, it...

Anatomy and Description There are two major muscles in the chest, both of which are susceptible to various types of injuries. Pulled chest muscles are often very painful, though the severity of the injury tends to be relatively mild, except in extreme cases. The major muscle in the chest is the pectoralis major, commonly referred to as the “pecs,” is a large muscle in the front of the ribcage. It originates from the breastbone in the central region of the chest, and attaches to the humerus, near the shoulder joint. The function of the pectoralis major is to allow movement in various angles of the humerus across the body. The pectoralis minor is located under the pectoralis major, and originates on the middle ribs, and attaches to the coracoid...

When people injure themselves by pulling one or more of the muscles in their body, they have a wide variety of options for treatment and recovery. Some of these treatments are invasive, others are primarily hands-off. Some treatment methods and modalities involve the patient being responsible for their recovery, playing an active role in treatment by attending regular appointments and doing prescribed exercises as instructed by their healthcare provider. Physical Therapy One way to help the body heal from a pulled muscle injury is by going to physical therapy. Physical therapy is done by a license physical therapist that knows the right exercises and modalities to rehabilitate a pulled muscle. There are many types of physical therapy, each focusing...

Anatomy and Physiology A pulled muscle can occur anywhere in the body, as there are hundreds of individual muscles in the human body. Some muscles, however, are more susceptible to injury based on lack of strength or probability of exposure to harmful situations. Any muscle has the ability to stretch and move, but by the same token, all muscles can be moved, snapped or stretched beyond their natural ability, and that is when injuries occur. Because pulled muscles can be more difficult than a broken bone or other obvious injury to diagnose, they are frequently categorized into three grade levels, each of them defining the seriousness of a pulled muscle injury. The symptoms associated with each grade level are usually indicative of the severity of a...

Anatomy and Description When people talk about a pulled muscle in the shoulder, they are referring to the deltoid muscle, which is a huge three-headed muscle that covers the shoulder. The three heads can each be injured, or multiple heads can be damaged in an injury. The purpose of the deltoid as a whole is to allow movement of the arm away from the body, and the three heads work together to allow this to happen. The anterior head originates on the collarbone, and is responsible for raising the arm away from the body, in a forward motion toward the front of the body. The lateral head also originates from the collarbone, and is responsible for moving the arm away from the body and to the side. The posterior head originates on the scapula, and is...

Anatomy and Description The arm and forearm consist of the segment between the shoulder and the wrist, and contains several muscles that have the possibility of being injured. Any of the muscles in the arm have the potential to be pulled, but a few of them are more likely to be injured than others, and some damaged muscles are more detrimental than to others in the arm. There are five major muscles in the human arm, all of which work together to help the arm move. The deltoid muscle is responsible for abducting the arm, and it aids in general flexion and extension of the entire arm. The triceps brachii is the muscle in the back of the arm responsible for extending the forearm. The brachialis and the brachioradialis are closely located and often...

Anatomy and Description There are three primary muscles in the abdomen, and when an injury occurs, any of them can be involved. The rectus abdominis is the massive muscle over the front of the belly area. The rectus abdominis is what gives a person the appearance of a six-pack when the muscles are well developed. These muscles are responsible for the extension and contraction of the abdominal wall and are used in everyday activity. The internal and external oblique muscles wrap around the sides of the body and are responsible for the twisting of the body from side to side. All three of these muscles are extremely important for daily function, and if one or more of them is injured, it can reduce a person’s ability to be fully functional. Causes of...

Anatomy and Description The muscles that comprise the leg are thick, powerful and relatively complicated in comparison with other body parts. The upper thigh is the largest and most powerful muscle in the entire body, making it important to avoid injury to this area. The leg from the length of the buttocks to the ankle is comprised of four major muscle groups. The gluteus muscle group is comprised of three muscles in the buttock area; the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus, all working together. The gluteus muscle is responsible for the extension of the hip, abduction of the leg away from the body, and internal and external rotation of the thigh and buttocks. The hamstring group of muscles contains the semimembrinosus, semitendinosus, and biceps...

Pulled muscles often require a variety of modalities in order to heal them properly. Perhaps one of the easiest things a person can do to help with healing is to apply ice and heat to the injured area. This should always be done with a physical barrier between the ice or heat source so as not to damage the skin in the process. Using Heat and Cold Treatment Using heat and cold treatments to help aid in the healing process of a pulled muscle can be very useful, especially if done in a timely fashion following the onset of injury. The combination of ice and heat work very well together, to reduce swelling and increase mobility without any invasive techniques or putting pharmaceutical drugs into the body. Ice is used to reduce the swelling that often...

Anatomy and Description When a pulled muscle injury is caused from coughing and sneezing, it is most often a combination of muscles that are affected. It is seldom a serious injury in terms of the pulled muscle itself, but in some severe cases, there can actually be fracturing of the ribs, and recovery can take longer. There are many muscles in the back that can be irritated by persistent or extreme coughing and sneezing. These muscles include the several groups of muscles that surround the vertebrae. Intertransversarii muscles, responsible for the movements between vertebrae, and the mutifidus spinal muscles, responsible for the spinal column movement as a whole all work in unison during coughing and sneezing and thus are all at risk for being...