Muscle Strain

A muscle is strained when it is stretched beyond its load capacity. Too fast, too abruptly, without preparation. The muscle is forced into a length it was not ready for — and fibres tear. Not completely, usually only microscopically. But enough to hurt. Enough to sideline you for days or weeks.

Medically the matter is clear: overstretching due to inadequate warm-up, too high a speed, load spikes the muscle could not absorb. The treatment plan is equally clear — rest, cooling, compression, gentle movement. The muscle heals. After two, three, perhaps six weeks everything is back to how it was before.