St. Louis Muscle Strain Attorney

Muscle Strains and Tears

A muscle strain is a stretch of a muscle and/or tendon, which at the extreme results in a muscle tear. The most common causes of any muscle strain or tear is overuse and sports injuries, particularly with muscles that have not been properly stretched prior to activity; however, any significant car accident injury can result in muscle strain and/or tears because of the extreme forces exerted on the body in various directions (one example of this is whiplash).

The mechanism of injury in a muscle strain is forceful flexion of the muscle while exercising or with an auto accident, the sudden deceleration results in extreme flexion and stretching of numerous muscles as the body tenses up and is rapidly accelerated forward in a stopped vehicle.

Symptoms and Treatment of Muscle Strains and Tears

An individual with a muscle strain may or may not experience pain initially; over a couple hours, the muscle will become sore and it will become painful and difficult to do activities utilizing that muscle. Treatment for this type of injury involves rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen. It is recommended that you avoid doing strenuous activity for an extended period of time, followed by a gradual return to normal activities.

With a muscle tear, there is sudden onset of intense pain after feeling a pop in the muscle injured; some individuals recall hearing an audible snap at the time of injury. Depending on the muscle affected, you can usually feel a dip or divot in the muscle where it has been injured and it is very tender to the touch. Swelling will develop after a couple hours and extensive bruising will be noticed after 24-48 hours. In addition, you will also notice weakness of the affected muscle.

Whether or not surgery is recommended for the repair of a torn muscle depends on how much that muscle is used in day-to-day life; for example, if your bicep or calf muscle was torn, surgery would be recommended because they are used in almost everything you do. In contrast, the doctor may recommend using a brace or splint combined with rehabilitative physical therapy, which still allows the individual to regain the majority of their strength.

Prognosis

Individuals with a muscle strain often have a full recovery without complication. After a muscle tear, individuals typically experience a full recovery but the amount of strength they are able to regain with physical therapy varies between cases; surgical repair will usually give the patient the best chance at regaining near-normal strength in the injured muscle.

Qualified Lawyers You Can Trust

Our St. Louis muscle injury lawyers have the legal experience and skills necessary to help injured clients seek compensation from negligent parties. If you or a family member has suffered a muscle tear in a car crash or another traumatic accident, our attorneys can help. Call (314) 322-8515 today for a free consultation to discuss your case.