Muscle Strain in Chest

Whether we realize it or not, we use our chest muscles in most activities of our day-to-day life. Though the chest muscles are one of the strongest muscles in the body, they still get pulled, strained or torn due to overuse or overload.

More often than not, any severe injury to the chest muscles can easily be avoided by taking simple measures at the right time, like taking enough rest and avoiding activities that can put pressure on them. But prolonged overload on the chest muscles, or an acute injury, can result in tearing of these muscles.

Chest muscles play a vital role in supporting the movement of the shoulders and arms, as well as in lifting objects. Overstretching or contraction of these muscle tissues can create tension between the chest muscles and the ribs to which they are attached, resulting in a strain or a tear of the muscle tissues.

➤ The most common cause of chest muscle strain is overload on the muscles due to prolonged overexertion over a long period of time. With time, the muscles begin to weaken, and finally become prone to strain or injury. This cause of muscle strain is seen most commonly in athletes and weightlifters, who push themselves to the limits, and sometimes overdo it.

➤ Muscles can also get strained due to an incorrect posture being adopted while exercising or weightlifting over a period of time.

➤ Another major reason why one can have a strained chest muscle is the lack of adequate warm-up exercises before workout sessions.

➤ Sometimes, a sudden loss of balance while exercising or a sudden violent force landing on the chest may also lead to chest muscle strain.

Getting yourself examined by a physiotherapist can help in the diagnosis of a pulled or strained chest muscle. If you are experiencing considerable pain in your chest region, it is better to get an X-ray done to confirm that it is due to a strained chest muscle, and to rule out any confusion regarding other injuries like a broken rib.

In severe and complicated cases, the patient might be advised to get a CT scan or an MRI scan done, to confirm the diagnosis and related treatment.

The chest muscles can be subject to just a minor pull or tear, causing some pain and loss of strength, or they may get severely injured due to the tearing of the muscle tissues. Depending upon the severity of the condition, chest muscle strains can be divided into three categories:

Grade I Strain
A mild strain, that is not a very serious injury and is merely caused by a pulled muscle. The muscle and tendon fibers are not torn, and there is no loss of strength. It may cause minor pain, but the muscles still function normally.

Symptoms: In grade I strains, there is mild pain with body movements involving the use of the affected muscles. Muscle strength and functioning is not much affected.

Treatment: Mild conditions in grade I can easily be taken care of at home by taking adequate rest and avoiding the use of the affected muscles. Additionally, using ice packs for a couple of days, followed by application of heating pads can provide great relief.

Grade II Strain
This is a moderate strain that is caused due to tearing of the fibers of the muscles in the chest. This injury can affect the strength and functioning of the muscles at a medium level. Most of the cases of strained chest muscles fall under this category.

Symptoms: In grade II strains, there may be some bruising, swelling or redness in the affected area. Muscle strength gets affected, and there is considerable pain while using the chest muscles. It could get difficult to move the arms across the chest.

Treatment: Grade II conditions need more care, rest, and treatment, to heal completely. Recovery usually takes about 2 - 4 weeks. Apart from ice and heat treatments, the doctor may also prescribe some over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen or Tylenol, to mitigate the pain.

Grade III Strain
Although rare, grade III strains can happen too. A severe muscle strain in the chest can result in the rupture of the muscle attachment with the ribs, and tearing of the muscle fibers. This type of strain may require surgical repair and long-term rest.

Symptoms: Grade 3 strains involve severe pain and discomfort. There is complete tearing of one or more of the muscle fibers. It involves significant bruising, swelling or redness in the affected area. It can also involve muscle spasm. Chest or arm movements, as well as muscle strength, are drastically affected and restricted.

Treatment: These severe strains may require the patient to undergo surgery. This will have to be followed by 4 - 12 weeks of complete rest, to fully recover from the injury. The patient may be advised to use a chest bandage to keep the affected area from moving awkwardly, so as to allow time for proper healing.

Like in the case of most health-related problems, the recovery period can be considerably reduced if necessary care and precautions are taken. Follow a healthy, balanced diet, and include more protein-rich foods in your diet.

After undergoing the suggested period of rest, slowly begin to do mild stretching exercises to bring back flexibility to the affected muscles. Follow a regular exercise regime as suggested by your physiotherapist. In most cases, with adequate care and exercise, the patient is able to recover fully.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by a medical professional.