Forearm Muscle Strain

(Muscle Strain, Forearm; Pulled Muscle, Forearm)

Pronounced: FOR-arm MUSS-el str-AY-n

by Mary Cresse

Definition

A forearm muscle strain is a partial or complete tear of the small fibers of the forearm muscles. Forearm muscles allow you to extend and flex your wrist and fingers.

Muscles of the Hand and Forearm

Causes

A forearm muscle strain is caused by:

Stretching the forearm muscles beyond the amount of tension they can withstand
Suddenly putting stress on the forearm muscles when they are not ready for stress
Overusing the forearm muscles over time
Receiving a direct blow to the forearm muscles

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase the chance of a forearm muscle strain include:

Participation in sports that overuse the forearm
Previous strain or injury to the area
Muscle fatigue
Weak or tired muscles
Repetitive movements that strain the forearm muscles

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

Problems flexing the fingers or wrist
Pain while stretching the fingers or wrist
Area feels tender and sore
Muscle spasms
Swelling

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Most forearm muscle strains can be diagnosed with a physical exam.

Images of the area may be needed if severe damage is suspected. Images may be taken with x-ray or MRI scan.

Muscle strains are graded according to their severity:

Grade 1—Some stretching with micro tearing of muscle fibers.
Grade 2—Partial tearing of muscle fibers.
Grade 3—Complete tearing of muscle fibers. This may also be called a rupture or avulsion.

Treatment

Recovery time ranges depend on the grade of your injury. Treatment options may include one or more of the following:

Supportive Care

The muscle will need time to heal. RICE is often the main part of treatment:

Rest—Activities will need to be restricted at first. Normal activities will be reintroduced gradually.
Ice—Ice therapy may help relieve swelling. Heat or cold may be advised throughout recovery if they provide benefits.
Compression—Used for a limited time, compression bandages can provide gentle pressure to help move fluids out of the area.
Elevation—Keeping the area elevated can help fluids drain out or prevent fluids from building up.

Prescription or over-the-counter medications may be advised to reduce pain.

Prevention

To help reduce the chance of a forearm muscle strain:

Use an ergonomic keyboard or workstation.
Keep muscles strong. This will help them absorb the energy of sudden, stressful activities.
Avoid overuse or repetitive stress.
Learn the proper technique for sports.
If you feel pain during exercise, stop exercising that muscle group.

RESOURCES:

American Council on Exercise
http://www.acefitness.org

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.familydoctor.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Physiotherapy Association
http://www.physiotherapy.ca

Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine
http://casem-acmse.org

References:

Dawson, WJ. Intrinsic muscle strain in the instrumentalist. Med Prol Perform Artists. 2005;20:66-69.

Derry S, Moore RA, Gaskell H, McIntyre M, Wiffen PJ. Topical NSAIDs for acute musculoskeletal pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2015;(6):CD007402.

Muscle strain (pulled muscle). Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed February 22, 2018.

Silva AG, La FM, Afreixo V. Pain prevalence in instrumental musicians: a systematic review. Med Probl Perform Art. 2015;30(1):8-19.

Sprains, strains, and tears. American College of Sports Medicine website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Published 2011. Accessed February 22, 2018.

10/26/2010 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com : Massey T, Derry S, Moore R, McQuay H. Topical NSAIDs for acute pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(6):CD007402.

Last reviewed March 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Laura Lei-Rivera, PT, DPT, GCS
Last Updated: 3/18/2013

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