I pulled my forearm, what should I do? Forearm muscle strain

A muscle strain in the forearm is usually caused by excessive stress from movement. Most often, tennis players, golfers, hockey players and other athletes whose movements are associated with sharp turns of the hand with sports equipment are subject to such damage.

Lifting too much weight can also cause a sprain. If the muscles of the forearm are not trained properly and are less developed, unlike the muscles of the shoulder and back, then lifting heavy equipment can lead not only to spraining, but even to tearing. Moreover, stretching can occur both with contracted muscles and in a relaxed state.

Symptoms

The forearm is formed by the radius, ulna and surrounding muscles and tendons. Located in the elbow joint, the muscles of the forearm allow the hand and fingers to flex and extend, and are also responsible for the rotational movements of the forearm. Depending on the functions performed by the muscles, they are given corresponding names - pronators, supinators, flexors and extensors.

The motor function of the hand and fingers is carried out with the help of long tendons stretched from the forearm, where the muscles are located. A sprained forearm ligament is accompanied by acute pain that persists throughout the day. During this time, swelling appears in the area of damage and the injured muscle increases in size.

In this case, the muscles stop contracting, and movement of the hand is accompanied by pain. The pain may persist for a long time, up to several weeks, and will be felt more acutely when palpated or exerted. With severe stretching, swelling spreads to the entire forearm.

Diagnostics

A professional traumatologist makes a diagnosis as quickly as possible. There are several basic points for diagnosing a forearm sprain:

the presence or absence of an episode of trauma.
Is it possible to move your arm after pain relief? If such a possibility exists, then this indicates that there is no complete rupture of the ligaments.
X-rays are the most reliable and fastest way to diagnose fractures, dislocations and sprains.

If the doctor suspects a partial rupture of a large tendon, then it is necessary to do an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and examine in detail a three-dimensional model of the injured joint and the surrounding soft tissues.

Attention! Since MRI machines are not installed in clinics and emergency rooms, this examination is considered routine. In no case should it be postponed, because the end of the torn tendon contracts, and it will no longer be possible to connect and sew the two separate ends. This examination must be done within 24 hours after the injury.

First aid

The first thing to do when you sprain is to free your forearm from the load, raise it on a support and try to relax the muscles. For mild sprains, rest may be sufficient. However, in any case, it would be useful to immobilize the injured limb for a while and apply ice to reduce swelling.

When using cold compresses, it is necessary to protect the area of skin being cooled to avoid frostbite. From the second day, you can wrap the injured forearm with a warm cloth or apply a heating pad. It is imperative to stretch damaged muscles.

This should be done carefully, without putting much effort, only lightly pressing on the stretched area with your fingers. If the pain does not subside after the injury, you must take an analgesic and immediately consult a doctor. Intense, persistent pain, extensive swelling, and hematoma formation may be signs of ligament and tendon rupture.

In some cases, surgery may be required to repair a ligament after a tear. Partial ruptures are treated conservatively. For severe sprains, the use of warming ointments and gels from the second day after injury is also indicated. The products must be applied evenly with light rubbing movements 3 to 5 times a day.

Recovery

The rehabilitation period after the main stretching is an equally important stage of recovery.

Massage procedures using warming and anesthetic drugs have a beneficial effect on damaged muscles;
Among physiotherapeutic procedures, it is recommended to give preference to electrophoresis and kinesitherapy;
Physical therapy will help develop the damaged limb.

It is also important to carry out a course of preventive actions to strengthen the muscular system of the forearm in order to avoid similar injuries in the future. If the professional or sports activity of the victim is associated with systematic loads, then it is necessary to develop a work and rest regime for the limb.

In this case, when a fall or blow occurs, the upper part of the arm bone pops out of the shoulder joint socket. Unlike many joints in the human body, the shoulder joint is incredibly mobile. You can twist and move your arm at the shoulder joint in almost all directions. But there is a price for such ease of movement. The shoulder joint is internally unstable, and therefore the bone can slip out of it.

In severe cases of shoulder dislocation, the tissue and nerves around the shoulder joint may be damaged. If you have suffered a dislocated shoulder, it may be due to chronic shoulder instability or weakness.

Symptoms of a shoulder dislocation or shoulder sprain

Symptoms of a shoulder dislocation are:

and in the upper part of the arm, which gets worse when trying to move the arm
shoulder deformity - a lump in the front or back of the shoulder, depending on which direction the dislocation occurred

Symptoms of a shoulder sprain include:

severe pain as soon as the injury occurs
swelling of the shoulder and collarbone
swelling
shoulder deformity

To diagnose a shoulder dislocation or shoulder sprain, your doctor will perform a thorough examination. An x-ray may be needed to rule out bone fractures and other possible injuries.

Types of sprains

In medicine, three main degrees of sprains are considered:

The first is mild pain and discomfort in the joint;
The second is swelling of the shoulder, moderate, tolerable pain;
The third is severe, almost unbearable pain and instability of the damaged joint.

Tendon sprains can be pathological or traumatic. The first are a consequence of degenerative-dystrophic processes that occur when the strength of the tendon is lost (myositis, injuries, arthrosis).

Traumatic strains occur as a result of a strong external force that acts in the opposite direction to the action of the contracting muscle.

Conservative treatment of sprains promotes fusion of fibers and scar formation. This reduces the strength of the ligaments and increases the risk of complete rupture of the tendon in the future.

Treatment for a shoulder dislocation or sprain

A dislocated shoulder should be treated immediately. The doctor must move the arm bone back into its socket. Since the swelling and soreness after a shoulder dislocation will increase by the minute, the sooner the arm bone is put back into place, the better. Once the bone is set into the joint, the pain will ease slightly. Once the humerus is back in place, conservative treatment can be used to reduce pain and swelling.

The same treatment can be used for shoulder sprains.

To treat these types of injuries it is necessary:

give your shoulder rest and relieve any stress;
use ice to reduce pain and swelling. Ice is used for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days after injury or until pain and swelling subsides;
immobilize your shoulder joint to prevent further damage until you receive medical attention. Then you need to follow the advice of your doctor, who will tell you whether the fixation should be used in the future or not;
use painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to help control pain and swelling. Just keep in mind that these drugs may have side effects associated with an increased risk of bleeding, ulcers, heart attacks and strokes. NSAIDs should not be used for long periods of time unless your doctor specifically advises you to do so.
Perform exercises to strengthen and stretch the shoulder joint if your doctor recommends them.

In most cases of treatment of shoulder dislocation or shoulder sprain, the presented procedures are sufficient to obtain the desired effect. In rare cases, surgery may be required.

Prognosis for shoulder dislocation or rupture of shoulder ligaments

How quickly recovery occurs depends on the severity of the shoulder injury. A shoulder sprain can take up to 6 weeks to heal. Recovery from a dislocated shoulder can take anywhere from 3 to 12 weeks. All these time periods are only approximate, since recovery and recovery occurs at different speeds and depends on a lot of factors.

Some symptoms of a shoulder dislocation or shoulder sprain may remain for a while. For example, painful sensations when trying to put a load on the shoulder joint. Once your acute symptoms have subsided, your doctor may prescribe a recovery program for you, developing a special set of exercises that will make your shoulder muscles stronger and more flexible and help reduce the risk of future shoulder injuries.

Prevention of shoulder dislocation and rupture of shoulder ligaments

A dislocated shoulder or torn shoulder ligament is a painful and debilitating injury. What can be done to reduce the chances of such injuries? Here are some tips:

stop physical activity if you feel pain in your shoulder;
Perform stretching and strengthening exercises for the muscles of the shoulder girdle regularly;
Use ice after physical activity if you have previously had a shoulder sprain;
Use fall protection if you are at risk of shoulder dislocation or shoulder sprain.

Author of the article

: Dinara Safieva, Moscow Medicine©
Disclaimer
: The information presented in this article about shoulder dislocation and shoulder sprain is intended for informational purposes only. However, it cannot be a substitute for consultation with a professional physician.

The causes of sprained forearm muscles and their treatment is, although a simple, but sensitive topic that requires careful study.

The muscles of the forearm are involved in the movements of the hand and the flexion and extension of the fingers. A feature of the structure of the forearm is the arrangement of muscles in several layers. Bunches of muscle fibers are located at different angles from the elbow to the wrist. Individual muscles vary in their functions and the loads they experience during movement. Since the muscles of the forearm are actively involved in any movement that involves grasping objects with the hand, the flexor muscles experience the greatest load. When lifting heavy weights or falling, this load increases several times. A rapid increase in the load on the muscle leads to ruptures of muscle fibers, and various types of sprains and dislocations can occur.

Causes of forearm injuries

often occurs when engaging in active sports, in which falls with a tense forearm or sudden movements of the hand with sports equipment are possible. Such sports are, for example, tennis and hockey. Tennis players are at risk because they often make sudden movements with their racket. When playing at high speeds, the forearm experiences a lot of stress, and any awkward movement can lead to. When playing golf, you can also not only stretch your forearm.

Sprains occur in weightlifters who lift too much weight. If an athlete does not pay enough attention to training the muscles of the forearm, they lag behind in growth compared to the muscles of the shoulder and back. As a result, during training with heavy weights, an athlete can easily stretch or even tear the muscles of the forearm.

You can stretch both a contracted and a relaxed muscle. Contracted muscles are stretched under the influence of heavy weight or sudden movements without first warming up and warming up the muscle. Unheated muscles cannot contract as effectively as warmed ones, so it is possible for muscle fibers to stretch due to their own compression force. When you fall, you can stretch a relaxed muscle if your hand bends or turns sharply.

Causes

The main causes of forearm sprains are considered to be those sports in which falls often occur when the forearm muscles are tense, or during sudden inaccurate movements of the arm, for example, tennis, hockey.

Weightlifting is also considered a dangerous sport, as lifting too much weight increases the risk of a sprain. To avoid damage, it is necessary to devote as much time as possible to training, since weak, untrained muscles are unable to withstand heavy loads, which leads to stretching and often to tearing of the ligaments.

It should be remembered that a sprain can happen to either a tense or relaxed muscle. In the first case, the cause may be a large load that untrained muscles cannot withstand.

Stretching a relaxed muscle usually occurs when there is an unfortunate fall, or if the hand is sharply turned or bent.

Risk factors

The main risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of forearm sprains:

certain sports (tennis, throwing objects, weightlifting);
diseases that require hormonal therapy;
elderly age;
congenital defects and weak ligaments;
excess weight.

Symptoms and first aid for forearm problems

forearm is accompanied by sharp pain and refusal of the muscles to contract. The first pain appears immediately and persists for 12-24 hours. The forearm muscles become a little larger and swelling appears. Rotation and bending of the hand is impossible without pain. Muscle soreness can persist for a long time, up to several days or weeks. A stretch retains pain in the muscle for a long time when palpated and loaded. Severe stretching causes swelling, which spreads to the entire enlarged forearm. Regardless of the location of the sprain, the symptoms are approximately the same. The same symptoms are observed with sprains of the forearm tendons.

If muscle pain occurs and a sprain is suspected, it is necessary to free the forearm from physical activity. If possible, you need to relax your muscles and raise your forearm on the support. If the sprain is minor, it may be enough to just rest and it will gradually go away. But it is still recommended to take some measures:

First you need to place your forearm on a support or tie it to the body to relieve the muscles from movement and stress.
Then apply ice or a cold object (cold compress or heating pad with cold water). Cooling will reduce swelling slightly.
The area of skin in contact with ice must be protected from frostbite with a towel.
The next day, it is better to place your hand in dry heat (wrap it in a dry towel or shawl).
The damaged muscle must be slowly kneaded with your fingers, avoiding strong pressure, which is accompanied by pain.
If the pain is very severe, you need to take a painkiller and urgently consult a doctor, since ligament rupture is possible.

A severe strain may cause a rupture of the muscle sheath or a rupture of the tendon ligaments that attach the muscle to the bone. Such ruptures are accompanied by severe pain, extensive swelling and hematomas. As a rule, with severe tears, brush movements become impossible. In such cases, it is necessary to visit a hospital facility.

Severe muscle and tendon tears may require immediate surgery. If the ligament is torn entirely, it must be stitched. Partial ligament ruptures are treated without stitches.

A slight sprain of the ligaments does not require special treatment; it is enough to follow the above recommendations: keep the arm at rest, using a pressure bandage made of an elastic bandage, and tie it to the body. In case of severe muscle damage accompanied by profuse swelling, it is recommended to use warming ointments and gels that relieve inflammation and swelling. The ointment should be applied evenly over the forearm, covering all areas of swelling. This dosage form must be used four to five times a day.

Symptoms of forearm sprain

The first symptoms of a forearm sprain are sharp pain and difficulty in straining the muscle . The first sharp pain appears instantly and persists for 12-24 hours.

The forearm swells, the muscles increase in volume (see photo above). Bending and turning the hand is accompanied by sharp pain. This soreness may persist for several days or even weeks.

Pain also persists when palpating the muscle. If the injury is severe, not only the tendon, but the entire forearm may swell.

With severe damage, ligament rupture may occur, which is accompanied by severe pain, hematomas and swelling. As a rule, it is impossible to move your hand. In this case, a doctor's consultation is necessary.

To begin with, if a sharp pain appears in the muscle and there is a suspicion of a sprain, you must immediately exclude any load on the injured arm. The muscles should be relaxed, and the forearm itself should be raised on a support as soon as possible.

If the damage is minor, then just rest and the sprain will go away on its own after some time.

But to avoid complications, it is better to take the following measures:

tie the injured arm to the body and eliminate any stress;
apply ice or something cold (will help reduce swelling);
the next day it is better to provide your hand with dry heat (cover with a towel, for example);
the injured muscle must be gently kneaded with your fingers;
if the pain only intensifies, then you need to take a painkiller and consult a doctor as soon as possible to rule out tendon rupture.

Following the tips above will help reduce pain and speed up recovery.

Treatment with traditional methods

Clay compresses are very popular. You need to take a piece of natural fabric (linen or cotton, you can take gauze), smear it with soaked clay and apply it to the affected part of the forearm. The compress should be secured with a bandage and tied with a towel or woolen scarf. The dried compress is changed by rinsing the hand with warm water. To increase the effectiveness of the procedure, you can add a few drops of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to the compress.
To relieve inflammation and swelling, the use of onion lotion is practiced. Onions are baked in the oven, ground into a paste, mixed with sugar (10:1) and the resulting mixture is applied to the sore spot. The compress is kept for about five hours, then changed.
For the treatment of sprains, traditional medicine also recommends an infusion of tansy flowers. The inflorescences are crushed, three tablespoons of crushed flowers are poured with a glass of boiling water. After an hour, the infusion is filtered through gauze and used for compresses.
It is also recommended to rub the strained muscles with alcohol tincture of arnica montana. For a glass of alcohol you need to take twenty grams of flowers of this plant.
You can use cornflower tincture internally. Place three teaspoons of flowers in half a liter of boiled water. Leave the infusion for an hour, strain and drink half a glass three times a day.
To relieve pain at the site of a sprain, you can use the leaves of wormwood. Crushed leaves are moistened with boiling water, applied to the sore spot and secured with a bandage. This compress is changed as it cools.
A fairly effective remedy that everyone has on hand is garlic and potatoes. You can use the crushed product as a compress. To increase the effect, squeeze half a lemon onto the pulp.
Compresses can also be made from hot milk. The hand with the compress is wrapped in a warm shawl and the compress is renewed as it cools.
It is recommended to treat with an ordinary cuff. Cuff leaves are poured with boiling water (half a liter per hundred grams), infused for four hours, then filtered and compresses are made. The same infusion can be made from the leaves of agrimony.

Some products need to be prepared in advance.

Ten cloves of garlic are crushed into a paste and poured with 500 ml of apple cider vinegar and 100 ml of vodka. Infuse the garlic for two weeks in a dark and cool place. After the expiration date, filter the infusion and add 20 drops of eucalyptus oil. The resulting mixture is thoroughly mixed and used for compresses.
A tincture with sunflower oil (1:5) is made from lavender flowers. It must infuse for at least 30 days. This oil is used to lubricate damaged limbs with sprains, bruises and dislocations.

Timely identification of the cause of pain, accurate diagnosis and correct treatment tactics will help you cope with a sprained forearm muscle in a short time without any particular difficulties.

Sprain Treatment

For several days after the injury, the patient must be provided with rest and something cold on the injured area.

However, you cannot leave your hand inactive for a long time, as this will affect its future functionality.

Treatment of sprained forearm ligaments must begin with taking analgesics: Pentalgin, Baralgin .

These medications will help relieve discomfort. Then, as a rule, doctors prescribe drugs that contain ibuprofen: Chlotazol, Naproxen .

The first question when symptoms of a forearm sprain appear is: what ointment to treat? Most often, doctors prescribe the following types of ointments:

homeopathic, for example, "Traumel S" . They help improve metabolic processes and stop tissue destruction;
warming up, for example, “Finalgon” . Such ointments relieve discomfort and improve tissue nutrition;
chondroprotectors, for example, “Nise”, “Nimesulide” . These remedies reduce pain and effectively relieve inflammation. But they have many side effects, so using them for a long time is not recommended.

All ointments should be applied evenly over the entire surface of the forearm. They must be used at least four times a day.

Important! All of the above remedies effectively treat and help you forget about sprains for a long time. But they should only be prescribed by a specialist, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the injury.

Treating the symptoms of a forearm sprain can be done with surgery. This method is used in particularly difficult cases, for example, with hemorrhage, and also if conservative therapy has failed.

ethnoscience

How does traditional medicine treat forearm sprain? Let's look at a few popular methods:

Clay compresses . A piece of natural fabric, for example, linen or cotton, must be smeared with clay soaked in warm water and applied to the injured hand. All this needs to be secured with a bandage and wrapped in a towel or warm scarf. When the compress dries, you need to change it, after rinsing your hand with warm water. To make the procedure more effective, add a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to the clay.
Onion lotions are a great way to relieve swelling and reduce inflammation. Onions must be baked in the oven, ground into a paste and mixed with sugar in a ratio of 10:1. The resulting compress should be applied to the sore arm for five hours, then replaced with a fresh one.
An infusion of tansy flowers is a popular way to treat sprains in folk medicine. You need to pour boiling water over three tablespoons of flowers and let it brew for an hour. The resulting infusion must be filtered using gauze and compresses used.
When sprained, it is recommended to rub your hand with mountain arnica tincture. To prepare, you need to take 20 grams of arnica flowers for one glass of alcohol.
Wormwood leaves will help relieve pain at the site of a sprain. The plant must be crushed and soaked in boiling water. Then apply it to the injured hand and fix it. When the compress cools down, it needs to be changed.
Garlic and potatoes are an effective remedy that everyone has on hand. The products must be grated and used as a compress.

Effective compresses are also made from hot milk. The injured hand with a compress must be wrapped in warmth. You need to change the compress when it cools down.

Important! Timely identification of the causes of pain, accurate and quick diagnosis, and correct treatment will help you get rid of the symptoms of a forearm sprain in the shortest possible time.

Some folk remedies for forearm muscle strains need to be prepared in advance:

You need to chop 10 large garlic cloves and pour in 500 ml of apple cider vinegar and 100 ml of vodka . The resulting mixture must be infused for two weeks in a cool, dark place. Then you need to strain the infusion and add 20 drops of eucalyptus oil. The resulting mixture is mixed and used for compresses for sprains.
Sunflower oil with lavender flowers must be mixed in proportions of 1:5. Leave for at least a month. In case of damaged ligaments or simply bruises, it is necessary to lubricate the injured area with the resulting mixture.

Healing Fitness

You can quickly restore the joint and its mobility after a sprain using a special set of exercises.

All exercises must be performed strictly under the supervision of an instructor, and the load on the injured joint must be increased slowly, gradually.

Sudden movements can cause severe pain and increase the risk of re-sprain. It is important to do the exercises regularly, without skipping.

The only reason to refuse training may be severe pain.

The time to start training depends on the severity of the injury. If you have a slight sprain, you can start exercising within two days.

The first exercises are aimed at increasing joint mobility and maintaining muscle tone. Only then, under the supervision of a doctor, the patient begins to perform exercises aimed at developing muscles and their endurance.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic procedures can usually be used within three days after a ligament injury. With the help of such procedures, you can improve bone nutrition and speed up the process of tissue repair.

The most popular types of such treatment:

Magnetic therapy is a non-drug treatment method using a pulsed or constant magnetic field. This method of treatment helps relieve pain, accelerate tissue restoration, and eliminate the inflammatory process;
electrophoresis - involves introducing medicine into body tissue through healthy skin using an electric current;
amplipulse therapy;
paraffin baths.

All these procedures are very effective and if the doctor prescribed them, then you should not neglect these methods of treatment.