How to know the difference between a pulled muscle and a torn muscle?

Author: Isabella Becker Jr.  |  Last update: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Key Differences Between Torn and Pulled Muscles In contrast, strained muscles typically represent mild to moderate overstretching without complete tearing. Symptoms: Torn muscles often present with sudden, intense pain, swelling, and bruising, and may include a 'popping' sensation at the site of injury.

How do you tell if a muscle is pulled, strained, or torn?

Symptoms of a pulled or torn muscle include:
  1. Muscle pain.
  2. Muscle spasms.
  3. Bruising.
  4. Swelling.
  5. Muscle weakness.
  6. Limited range of motion.
  7. Feeling a “pop” during the injury.
  8. Seeing a gap or dent in the shape of the muscle.

What will a doctor do for a pulled muscle?

Prescribing medications or giving injections for pain that won't quit. Providing home-care guidance, including specific stretches or strengthening exercises. Referring you to physical therapy for additional assistance during your recovery. Giving you self-care recommendations to lower your risk of re-injury.

Can you still walk with a torn muscle?

A calf muscle tear usually causes sudden, intense calf pain and may prevent you from walking or bearing weight on your leg.

Can you move a muscle if it's torn?

Recognizing Muscle Tear Symptoms

Depending on the severity, you may have difficulty moving the affected area, or it may even become immobile. You might also notice swelling, bruising, discoloration, and a "knotted up" feeling or stiffness.

How do you know if you strained a muscle?

What does a grade 1 muscle tear feel like?

To help simplify diagnosis and treatment, doctors often classify muscle strains into three grades, depending on the severity of muscle fiber damage: Grade I strain. In this mild strain, only a few muscle fibers are stretched or torn. Although the injured muscle is tender and painful, it has normal strength.

How to tell if pain is muscular or internal?

Muscular pain often feels localized, tender to the touch, and worsens with movement or specific activities. It may also be accompanied by muscle spasms or visible signs of inflammation. Internal pain , on the other hand, may feel deeper, more widespread, and unrelated to movement.

Should I go to the ER if I tore a muscle?

In most cases, a pulled muscle (or muscle strain) doesn't require emergency care. However, if you experience severe pain or significant swelling, hear a popping sound during injury, or can't move the affected area at all, these could be signs of a serious tear that warrant immediate medical attention.

Is heat good for a pulled muscle?

After an acute injury, ice should be used to minimize swelling for the first two to three days. After this period, heat can be used to increase blood flow and assist the natural healing process. Applying heat too early may cause additional swelling by increasing blood flow to the injury.

When should I be worried about muscle pain?

Get medical care right away or go to the emergency room if you have muscle pain with: Trouble breathing or dizziness. Extreme muscle weakness with problems doing routine daily activities. A high fever and stiff neck.

What happens if a muscle tear goes untreated?

Unless the condition is addressed, the injury may develop into permanent muscle damage, which not only decreases its physical functionality and performance but can also release proteins into the bloodstream. This condition then affects the body's kidneys and can lead to fatal complications.

Should I massage a pulled muscle?

It's important to note that you should never massage a strained muscle that hasn't been given 72 hours to rest. Massaging a freshly-strained muscle can actually increase inflammation and even cause further injury, so be sure to wait at least three days before attempting any massage therapy.

How to speed up muscle tear recovery?

approach — rest, ice, compression, elevation:
  1. Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. ...
  2. Ice. Even if you're seeking medical help, ice the area immediately. ...
  3. Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ...
  4. Elevation.

What not to do with a pulled muscle?

Gentle stretching to the area can be beneficial, but the key is to keep it gentle. Avoid any prolonged sitting, bending, heavy lifting, twisting, or driving - all of which can make the pain worse. Giving the area of pain a rest, at least for the next 24 hours, will most likely be beneficial.

Should I go to urgent care for leg pain?

Make an appointment with your health care provider if:

You have pain during or after walking. You have swelling in both legs. Your pain gets worse. Your symptoms don't get better after a few days of treating them at home.

What test can detect a torn muscle?

MRI for muscle and connective tissue damage

In some cases, doctors can make a diagnosis based on a physical exam and symptoms. However, if the injury is more severe, an MRI can reveal whether you have a torn ligament or muscle.

Does ibuprofen help pulled muscle?

Rest the strained muscle and apply ice for the first few days after the injury. Anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen (Tylenol) also help reduce pain and swelling. As the pain decreases, you can use heat on the muscle.

What are the four symptoms of tendonitis?

The main symptoms of tendonitis are:
  • pain in a tendon that gets worse when you move.
  • difficulty moving the joint.
  • feeling a grating or crackling sensation when you move the tendon.
  • swelling, sometimes with heat or redness.

What does a pulled groin feel like for a woman?

This occurs when you pull the adductor or hip flexor muscles in your thighs. This injury causes a sharp pulling or tearing sensation the moment it happens (often during exercise). You may then feel a nagging pain in your groin when you move around. This may be felt for a few days or even weeks.

What does urgent care do for pulled muscle?

Orthopedic urgent care clinics are ideal places for receiving treatment for muscle strains that don't require surgery. Orthopedic urgent care doctors may prescribe medication to help control the pain and reduce inflammation and the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method to do at home.

How do I know if my muscle is torn or pulled?

Visible swelling and bruising: Torn muscles frequently result in noticeable swelling and bruising around the affected area. The presence of red, blue, or purple discoloration indicates bleeding and inflammation. Severe muscle tears may exhibit more pronounced swelling and bruising.

What is the best home remedy for muscle pain?

Heat And Cold Packs

Alternating ice and heat therapy can be an effective way to ease muscle and joint pain. This method can help increase blood flow to muscles, loosen stiff joints and distract the brain from pain.

Is muscle pain sharp or dull?

Soreness or pain

Your muscles may feel a dull ache, tight, and achy feeling when you try to use them. This may also be present at rest but is more common when you try to use them. Pain causes an ache or sharp pain at rest or pain when exercising. May be more constant than muscle soreness.

What is the best medicine for muscle pain?

This is a personal preference. Some feel acetaminophen works better for them, whereas others find ibuprofen better relieves a headache. Muscle ache or pulled/strained muscle. Ibuprofen typically works better for this kind of pain relief, due to the anti-inflammatory effects.

How to tell what kind of pain it is?

Pain can be categorized in different ways:
  1. Acute pain: Sudden onset of pain lasting less than 30 days.
  2. Subacute pain: Pain that lasts from one to six months.
  3. Chronic pain: Persistent or recurring pain lasting more than six months.
  4. Localized pain; Pain felt in a specific part of the body.

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