Muscle Strain Resulting from a Car Accident
What is Muscle Strain?
Almost everyone at some point in their life has experienced some level of muscle strain, also called a muscle pull. A muscle strain is when the muscle fiber and/or tendon are overstretched and torn in some way. The severity of the injury is divided into one of three grades assigned by a medical professional.
An auto accident quickly places the body under a tremendous force. This force can often pull muscles and tendons in a way that causes lasting pain.
What are the Symptoms of Muscle Strain?
A muscle strain is placed into three categories: Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III. A Grade 1 strain is considered minor with only slight tearing. A Grade 2 strain is a moderate tear that also damages surrounding blood vessels. A Grade 3 is severe with the muscle or tendon being torn apart. All grades of muscle strains can include the following symptoms:
- Pain centered around the injury
- Tender to the touch
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Difficulty moving the injured muscle or unable to move at all
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle spasms (result of scar tissue forming)
- Uneven or deformed surface of the skin
A muscle strain can seem like a minor nuisance to most people. It is often under treated or not treated at all. This leads to the body improperly healing and it then will take longer to correct what could have been a simple fix. This is why getting a proper diagnosis early will lead to a proper treatment plan and a healthier you sooner.
How can Chiropractic Care Help?
Chiropractors are trained to diagnosis and develop a treatment plan to overcome personal injuries, like muscle strains. In St. Louis, MO, Berman Chiropractic provides a full range of chiropractic services to help our patients recover. Treatment can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the severity of injury.
You do not have to live with the pain of muscle strain after a car accident. Contact Berman Chiropractic today.