Condition
Muscle strains.
Muscle strains occur when muscle fibers are overstretched or torn, often during sprinting, jumping, lifting, or sudden changes in speed.
What patients notice
Symptoms can include sharp pain, tightness, weakness, bruising, or pain when contracting or stretching the muscle. Hamstring, calf, quad, and hip flexor strains are especially common in active patients.
A careful exam helps grade the injury and identify the safest way to rebuild strength without re-injury.
How it is treated
Care is based on the severity and location of the strain. Early treatment may include relative rest, compression, mobility work, and avoiding painful overload.
Recovery then progresses into strengthening, sport-specific movement, and return-to-play testing to reduce the risk of recurrence.