Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include:  Pain or tenderness Redness or bruising Limited motion Muscle spasms Swelling Muscle weakness  When to see the doctor Mild strains can be treated at home. See a doctor if your symptoms worsen despite treatment — especially if your pain becomes intolerable, or you experience numbness or tingling. Causes Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Chronic muscle strains can result from repetitive injuries when you stress a muscle by doing the same motion over and over. Risk factors Participating in contact sports — such as soccer, football, hockey, boxing and wrestling — can increase your risk of muscle strains. Certain parts of the body are more susceptible to strains during participation in certain sports. Examples include:  Legs and ankles. Sports that feature quick starts and jumping, such as hurdling and basketball, can be particularly tough on the Achilles tendon in your ankle. Hands. Gripping sports, such as gymnastics or golf, can increase your risk of muscle strains in your hands. Elbows. Elbow strains are often caused by throwing sports and racquet sports.  Prevention Regular stretching and strengthening exercises for your sport, fitness or work activity, as part of an overall physical conditioning program, can help to minimize your risk of muscle strains. Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape. If you have a physically demanding occupation, regular conditioning can help prevent injuries.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Request an appointment   Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment       Oct. 11, 2022   Print Print  Share on: FacebookTwitter Facebook Twitter Show references Sprains and strains. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced. Accessed April 27, 2018. Walls RM, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Safran MR, et al. Strain. In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries. Accessed April 27, 2018.  Show references  Sprains and strains. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced. Accessed April 27, 2018. Walls RM, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Safran MR, et al. Strain. In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries. Accessed April 27, 2018.   Sprains and strains. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced. Accessed April 27, 2018. Walls RM, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Safran MR, et al. Strain. In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries. Accessed April 27, 2018.  Sprains and strains. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced. Accessed April 27, 2018. Walls RM, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Safran MR, et al. Strain. In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 27, 2018. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries. Accessed April 27, 2018.  Related  Associated Procedures   Ultrasound     Products & Services   Book: Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies     Related  Associated Procedures   Ultrasound    Associated Procedures   Ultrasound  
signs symptoms will vary  depending severity injury  may include:  pain tenderness redness bruising limited motion muscle spasms swelling muscle weakness  see doctor mild strains can treated home  see doctor symptoms worsen treatment — especially pain intolerable  experience numbness tingling  causes acute strains can caused event  using poor body mechanics lift heavy  chronic muscle strains can result repetitive injuries stress muscle motion over  risk factors participating contact sports — soccer  football  hockey  boxing wrestling — can increase risk muscle strains  parts body susceptible strains participation sports  examples include:  legs ankles  sports feature quick starts jumping  hurdling basketball  can tough achilles tendon ankle  hands  gripping sports  gymnastics golf  can increase risk muscle strains hands  elbows  elbow strains caused throwing sports racquet sports   prevention regular stretching strengthening exercises sport  fitness work activity  part physical conditioning program  can help minimize risk muscle strains  try shape play sport; don't play sport shape  physically demanding occupation  regular conditioning can help prevent injuries                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff request appointment request appointment   diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment       oct  11  2022   print print  share on: facebooktwitter facebook twitter show references sprains strains  national institute arthritis musculoskeletal skin diseases  https://www niams nih gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced  accessed april 27  2018  walls rm  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  9th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2018  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  safran mr  al  strain  in: instructions sports medicine patients  2nd ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier saunders; 2012  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  sprains  strains soft-tissue injuries  american academy orthopaedic surgeons  https://orthoinfo aaos org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries  accessed april 27  2018   show references  sprains strains  national institute arthritis musculoskeletal skin diseases  https://www niams nih gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced  accessed april 27  2018  walls rm  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  9th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2018  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  safran mr  al  strain  in: instructions sports medicine patients  2nd ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier saunders; 2012  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  sprains  strains soft-tissue injuries  american academy orthopaedic surgeons  https://orthoinfo aaos org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries  accessed april 27  2018    sprains strains  national institute arthritis musculoskeletal skin diseases  https://www niams nih gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced  accessed april 27  2018  walls rm  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  9th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2018  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  safran mr  al  strain  in: instructions sports medicine patients  2nd ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier saunders; 2012  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  sprains  strains soft-tissue injuries  american academy orthopaedic surgeons  https://orthoinfo aaos org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries  accessed april 27  2018   sprains strains  national institute arthritis musculoskeletal skin diseases  https://www niams nih gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced  accessed april 27  2018  walls rm  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  9th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2018  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  safran mr  al  strain  in: instructions sports medicine patients  2nd ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier saunders; 2012  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed april 27  2018  sprains  strains soft-tissue injuries  american academy orthopaedic surgeons  https://orthoinfo aaos org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries  accessed april 27  2018    associated procedures   ultrasound     products & services   book: mayo clinic book home remedies      associated procedures   ultrasound    associated procedures   ultrasound  
muscle strains