Diagnosing the Severity of Your Muscle Pull

Overview

A muscle pull is when muscle fibers tear, which occurs in two ways: A distraction rupture or a compression tear. A distraction rupture is when the muscle tears because of resistance. The muscle is contracting, either quickly or with power, and the force is too great so some muscle fibers rip. In a compression tear, the muscle fibers are damaged because of impact. A helmet to the quadriceps would be an example.

In either case, blood spills. During athletic activities, muscles are full of blood. This blood is supplying oxygen and nutrients while removing wastes such as lactic acid, carbon dioxide, and other toxins. During a pull, the blood vessels get pulled apart along with muscle fibers and blood leaks into surrounding tissue. This spill may be close enough to the skin that a bruise appears, or it may be deeper and not appear on the skin surface.

To heal properly swelling and muscle tension must be alleviated. Next, the body has to remove toxins caused by the injury. Finally, circulation needs to be restored so that nutrients and oxygen can facilitate recovery.  If any of these things are not taking place, the recovery process can be slowed down or even stopped. However, if these essentials are happening, healing can proceed fairly quickly.

Use the simple system below to help you assess your injury level and the best QiVantage products to speed recovery time.   This is meant to give you a quick idea severity level and the best treatment for your injury. If you want a more exact diagnosis, please seek professional medical advice and diagnostics.

Mild Rating

Symptoms Recent injury. Mild pain but doesn’t impair motion.
Little signs of swelling or weakness. Some muscle stiffness.
Typical Medical Diagnosis* Mild Strain
Typical Medical
Recovery Guidelines		 1-2 weeks

Recommended Product to Reduce Recovery Time

 Injury Recovery Starter Kit
(Mild Pulled Muscle Treatment Kit)

Treatments

 5 patches, each giving you 12 hours of continuous therapy

Typical QiVantage Recovery Time to Full Strength

 7-10 days including rehab exercises

Moderate Rating

Symptoms Pain is mild to moderate with exercise or stretching. Possible minor swelling and definite tightness in muscle. Feels knotted up and may be tender to touch.
Typical Medical Diagnosis* Grade 1 Pull
Typical Medical
Recovery Guidelines		 2-4 weeks

Recommended Product to Reduce Recovery Time

 Injury Treatment Kit
(Moderate Pulled Muscle Treatment Kit)

Treatments

 2 Recovery Paste treatments, each providing 12 hours of deep penetrating therapy + 5 patches, each giving you 12 hours of additional therapy

Typical QiVantage Recovery Time to Full Strength

 2 weeks including rehab exercises

Severe Rating

Symptoms Pain is moderate to severe even with light walking.  May have heard or felt a pop at time of injury.  Range of motion limited along with some swelling and possible bruising.  The muscle feels weak and it is tender to touch. Slow to get better.
Typical Medical Diagnosis* Grade 2 Tear
Typical Medical
Recovery Guidelines		 4-6 weeks

Recommended Product to Reduce Recovery Time

 Severe Pulled Muscle Treatment Kits

Treatments

 4 Recovery Paste treatments, each providing 12 hours of deep penetrating therapy + 10 patches, each giving you 12 hours of additional therapy

Typical QiVantage Recovery Time to Full Strength

 2-3 weeks including rehab exercises

  • Chronic Rating

    Symptoms Injury has lasted over 1 month. Persistent and reoccuring. Flexibility is limited and hard to go 100% without making it worse. Pain can vary but often comes back after exercise. Bruising and swelling are gone but injury seems stuck in a partially healed state. Muscle continually feels weak and tight.
    Typical Medical Diagnosis* Chronic/Repeat Tear
    Typical Medical
    Recovery Guidelines    		 6 + weeks

    Recommended Product to Reduce Recovery Time

    		 Nagging/Chronic Pulled Muscle Treatment Kit

    Treatments

    		 6 – 12 hours deep penetrating treatments +
    10 patches for 10 hours of additional therapy each

    Typical QiVantage Recovery Time
    to Full Strength

    		 3-5 weeks including rehab exercises

Chronic Rating

Symptoms Injury has lasted over 1 month. Persistent and reoccuring. Flexibility is limited and hard to go 100% without making it worse. Pain can vary but often comes back after exercise. Bruising and swelling are gone but injury seems stuck in a partially healed state. Muscle continually feels weak and tight.
Typical Medical Diagnosis* Chronic/Repeat Tear
Typical Medical
Recovery Guidelines		 6 + weeks

Recommended Product to Reduce Recovery Time

 Nagging/Chronic Pulled Muscle Treatment Kit

Treatments

 6 Recovery Paste treatments, each providing 12 hours of deep penetrating therapy + 10 patches, each giving you 12 hours of additional therapy

Typical QiVantage Recovery Time to Full Strength

 2-4 weeks including rehab exercises

* Medical professionals classify muscle pulls as Grade 1, 2, 3 or chronic, based on the following signs.

Grade 1

You have overstretched the muscle fibers, resulting in some minor tears. This can result in:

  • tightness in the area of the strained muscle
  • mild to moderate discomfort when performing movements that stretch the strained muscle fibers
  • minor swelling or inflammation

Grade 2

You have partially torn some muscle fibers, resulting in the following symptoms:

  • twinges of pain during activity, especially against resistance
  • visible swelling and pressure, with the possibility of bruising
  • weakness in the affected muscle

Grade 3

You have fully torn or ruptured some muscle fibers. You may experience:

  • significantly diminished motor function, making motions that use the affected muscles difficult or not possible
  • severe pain when contracting the muscles, and a high level of background pain
  • visible and immediate swelling, with the possibility of bruising

Chronic

In addition to the three grades of injury, there is also the category of chronic. A chronic injury is one that is persistent and recurring and is identified by the following symptoms:

  • You experience stiffness and soreness for over one month
  • Your bruising and swelling is gone, but your flexibility is limited and it’s hard to work your muscles at 100 percent

If you have previously had a strain and did not allow the muscles to heal completely before returning to your normal activities and exercise, your chance of developing a chronic strain are greatly increased. Often, in these instances, because of improper recovery the muscle develops scar tissue that inhibits a full recovery.