Muscle strain injuries

Muscle injuries-lacerations, contusions or strains-are by far the most comm on injuries in sports. After first aid following the RICE principle (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), therapy must be tailored according to the severity of the injury and based on the knowledge gained from experimental studies on regeneration of injured muscle, Most muscle injuries can be trea ted conservatively with excellent recovery, but complete ruptures with comp lete loss of function should be managed surgically, Immediately after the i njury, a short period of immobilization is needed to accelerate formation o f the scar between the stumps of the ruptured myofibers, to which the stump s adhere. The optimal length of immobilization depends on the grade of the injury, and should not be longer than needed for the scar to bear the pulli ng forces without rerupture, Early mobilization is required to invigorate a dhesion, orientation of the regenerating muscle fibers, revascularization a nd resorption of the connective tissue scar. Another important aim of early mobilization, especially in clinical sports medicine, is to minimize inact ivity-induced atrophy as well as loss of strength and extensibility, which are rapidly appearing adverse sequelae of prolonged immobilization. Curr Op in Rheumatol 2000, 12:155-161 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.