Is it possible to pull your ab muscle

The athlete should be kept still while an ice pack is applied to the injury. An abdominal strain is easily diagnosed by a sports medicine professional with the use of a thorough medical history and complete clinical evaluation. Palpation of the injury site combined with abdominal muscle tests can provide enough information to determine the severity of the abdominal muscle injury as well as the specific muscle injured. They are usually acute traumatic injuries seen in athletes in the sports of baseball, softball, basketball, gymnastics, and track and field.

The most common causes of abdominal strains are sudden twisting i. If the force of the movement is stronger than the fibers of the muscles can withstand, the muscle will begin to stretch. If the force continues, the fibers may begin to tear. Continued force could cause a complete rupture within the muscle or between the muscle and its fascial attachment. Athletes can prevent abdominal muscle strains by maintaining the flexibility of their trunk and increasing the strength of their core muscles.

The good thing is that many sports programs already include core strength training exercises as part of their conditioning program. If athletes are involved in programs that do not incorporate core training, a large variety of these types of exercises are used by personal trainers, physical therapists, and certified athletic trainers.

These professionals can be consulted for additional or advanced exercises to strengthen core muscles. Here are a few good at home abdominal exercises. The Bridge — Is a core exercise that can be done without equipment. It is easily performed and has a lot of variations that can be added to increase the difficulty level of the specific exercise.

The Side Plank — Is another alternative to the regular plank. The idea is the same but the athlete is in a side lying position. This can be done with multiple leg lifts or by just holding the leg lift for a number of seconds. Immediate treatment — Involves using the P. The ice pack can be reapplied every two hours for the first two to three days post-injury. Rest is another component of the P.

Injuries to the arms or legs can easily be protected and rested through the use of crutches, slings, or braces. However, splinting the trunk of the body is not such an easy task. Wear Ace Bandage — To assist the athlete in supporting the injured area, the athlete may choose to wear an ace bandage.

The ace bandage also serves to add compression to the area minimizing any swelling. Mild Stretching — After the pain begins to subside, the athlete can begin mild stretching of the injured area along with isometric contractions to begin to strengthen and heal the injured tissue.

Stretching should proceed slowly and be performed carefully so as not to cause any pain. New collagen tissue can be torn from its attachment and restart the bleeding and swelling process. Isometric muscle exercises — Can be safely performed early in the rehabilitation process because they are designed to contract a muscle without allowing any movement of the associated joints.

The athlete can hold the contraction for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times. Concentric muscle exercises — Are exercises in which the muscle contracts causing a shortening of the muscle and movement of the adjacent joints.

Movements to improve the strengths of all of the abdominal muscle groups should include the movements of trunk flexion, rotation, and lateral flexion side bend. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Accessed September 15, Sprains, strains, and tears. American College of Sports Medicine website. Exceptional Nurses Winchester Hospital was the first community hospital in the state to achieve Magnet designation, recognition for nursing excellence. Supporting Our Community Our tremendous staff gives back to our community by coordinating free health screenings, educational programs, and food drives.

What Our Patients are Saying A leading indicator of our success is the feedback we get from our patients. Home Health Library. Abdominal Muscle Strain Definition An abdominal muscle strain is a partial or full tear of the small muscle fibers in the abdomen.

Risk Factors Things that may raise the risk of this problem are: Playing certain sports, such as football or tennis Previous strain or injury to the area Muscle fatigue Tight abdominal muscles Symptoms Problems may be: Pain that may be worse when sneezing, coughing, or twisting the body Pain when touching the area Stiffness Swelling or bruising Muscle spasms Diagnosis You will be asked about your symptoms and health history.

Treatment Most people get better in a few weeks. This may be done with: Initial Care The muscle will need time to heal. Supportive care may include: Rest to give the area time to heal Ice packs to ease pain and swelling Medicine may also be given to ease pain and swelling.

Physical Therapy An exercise program will be created to promote strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Cancer Care. Emergency Services. Cesarean Birth. Imaging Services. High Blood Pressure. Again, it is advised to consult your doctor if you notice symptoms of an abdominal hernia.

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Abdominal Hernia Muscle Strain. Hernia You are more than likely reading this because you are having some concerns about your abdominal pain and you are in limbo, thinking it may be just a strained abdominal muscle or think you may be developing an abdominal hernia. Abdominal Strain Pain in the abdomen area could mean many possible things. What actually happens when you strain your muscles? How do I know if I pulled a stomach muscle? Here are some abdominal wall tear symptoms you may be experiencing if you are suffering from a strained or pulled an abdominal muscle: Pain in abdomen area that worsens when you move Sudden muscle spasms or cramping Bruising Muscle weakness or stiffness Difficulty walking, bending forward or sideways, or standing straight These muscle strains can be mild, moderate or severe.

How can I treat my abdominal strain? Here are a few things you can do that will help to ease the pain of a pulled stomach muscle: Rest: This seems like common sense but is commonly ignored by competitive athletes wanting to get back in the game.

Your abdominal muscles are used for almost all your movements, sitting, standing up, twisting, etc. This makes it very difficult to rest your abdominal muscle. If you are experiencing some pain and discomfort during these movements, we recommend you check out our binders and wraps for abdominal muscle pain and strain. Over-the-Counter Drugs: To help ease the pain and reduce inflammation, you can take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen.

Compression: Using compression will help to apply pressure and help the affected area. If you are looking for something that will give you constant compression, hands-free we have an abdominal brace that helps especially with an abdominal strain. Is there a way to prevent abdominal strains? It is recommended that you spend 20 minutes before you start your workout to get your muscles ready. Recovery: You need to give your muscles time to recover.

Make sure you are doing a cool down after an intense workout. If you participate in strenuous activities every day, make sure you are resting the muscles and not overworking affected areas day after day.

Maintaining good muscle strength: If your muscles are strong, it is less likely they will tear or become injured. Diet: Eat healthily and drink lots of fluids, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet helps to strengthen bones and muscles.