Forearm Muscle Strain

(Muscle Strain, Forearm; Pulled Muscle, Forearm)

How to Say It: FOR-arm MUSS-el str-AY-n

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Definition

A forearm muscle strain is a part or complete tear of these muscles. Forearm muscles extend and flex the wrist and fingers.

Muscles of the Hand and Forearm

Causes

This problem may be caused by:

Stretching the muscles too fast or too far
Putting sudden stress on the muscles when they are not ready for the stress
Overuse
A direct blow

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:

Repetitive movements that strain the forearm muscles
Prior strain or injury to the muscles
Weak or tired muscles

Symptoms

Problems may be:

Pain while stretching the fingers or wrist
Problems flexing the fingers or wrist
Swelling
Muscle spasms

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the forearm. This is often enough to make the diagnosis.

Images may be taken to find out how much damage there is. This can be done with:

Treatment

How long it takes to heal depends on the injury. The goal of treatment is to promote healing. Options are:

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
Medicines to ease pain and swelling

Prevention

The risk of this problem may be lowered by:

Strengthening the muscles of the forearm
Using the right techniques when playing sports

RESOURCES:

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

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

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

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

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

References:

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 July 30, 2020.

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: https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/files-for-resource-library/sprains-strains-and-tears.pdf?sfvrsn=5b229fcf_2. Published 2011. Accessed July 30, 2020.

Last reviewed March 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Laura Lei-Rivera, PT, DPT
Last Updated: 3/12/2021

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