Definition

An abdominal muscle strain is a partial or full tear of the small muscle fibers in the abdomen.

Causes

This problem may be caused by:

• An activity that the muscle is not ready for
• Excessive exercise
• Improper technique while playing sports
• Lifting heavy objects
• Sharply twisting the body

Abdominal Muscles—Side View Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:

• Playing certain sports, such as football or tennis
• Previous strain or injury to the area
• Muscle fatigue
• Tight abdominal muscles

Symptoms

Problems may be:

• Pain that may be worse when sneezing, coughing, or twisting the body
• Pain when touching the area
• Stiffness
• Swelling or bruising
• Muscle spasms

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. You will also be asked how the injury happened. A physical exam will be done. This is often enough to make the diagnosis.

Treatment

Most people get better in a few weeks. The goal of treatment is to ease pain and improve movement. This may be done with:

Prevention

The risk of this problem may be lowered by:

• Using the right techniques when playing sports or doing things like lifting heavy objects
• Stretching and strengthening the abdominal muscles
• Resting when muscles are tired