Muscle strain occurs when a muscle becomes overstretched or works too hard. People can often treat muscle strains at home and use specific exercises to speed up their recovery.
Muscle strains can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- bruising
- muscle cramps
- difficulty moving the muscle
- muscle spasms
- muscle weakness
- pain, which usually worsens with movement
- swelling
A person may also hear an audible snapping or popping when the muscle strains.
Causes
A strained muscle occurs when a person stretches a muscle excessively, overuses a muscle, or experiences an accident, such as a fall.
People with tight, inflexible muscles and those who do not warm up properly before exercise may have a higher risk of muscle strain.
Some people whose job requires them to do repetitive movements, such as heavy lifting or sports, may develop chronic muscle strain injuries.

