Muscle injury

Biomechanics of Muscles
Types of muscles
• Smooth muscles (involuntary)

• Cardiac muscles (involuntary)

• Skeletal muscles (voluntary)

 Skeletal muscle
from a
mechanical point
of view

Non-contractile Contractile
component component
(Passive tension) (active tension)

In parallel In series
Sarcomere
CT TENDONS
 Sliding filament theory
• Actin filaments slides past myosin filaments causing
approximation of the Z lines and narrowing of H band
• It happens through the formation of cross bridges
• This leads to shortening of the myofilaments
• The force generated depends on the number of cross bridges
formed

Actin

Myosin
 The motor unit
• It is the functional unit of
movement
• Motor unit = α-motorneuron +
the muscle fibers it innervates
• Degree of the control required of
the muscle is determined by
1. innervation ratio
2. number of motor units
within a whole muscle.
 First degree strains

No gross disruption of muscle-tendon unit

Localized swelling and tenderness
No loss of strength in the injured unit
No loss of motion in the adjacent joints.
Stretching and resisted contractions of the injured
muscle-tendon unit will elicit pain at the site of the injury.
2nd degree strains

Gross disruption of the muscle-tendon unit.

Loss of strength in the muscle

Limitation of active motion in the adjacent joints.

3rd degree strain
One or more of the components of muscle-tendon unit
is completely disrupted
Motion in the adjacent joints is severely
restricted.
Site of disruption is visibly evident.
Defect may be palpated or documented by means of
specific clinical test.eg. Thompson test.
Causes and Sites of Muscle Injury
• Muscles at greatest risk of strain are:
• The two-joint muscles,
• Muscles limiting the range
of motion,
• Muscles used eccentrically.
Muscles used to terminate a range
of motion
The posterior rotator cuff muscles as they slow
the arm in the follow-through phase of throwing.
In fact, a common site of muscle
strain is at the muscle-tendon
junction
Muscle-tendon junction
Bone –tendon junction
• Zone 1:
pure tendon
• Zone 2:
fibrocartilag
There is a gradual e
transmission • Zone 3:
between 4 zones: mineralized
fibro
cartilage
• Zone 4:
bone
The risk for muscle strain.
First, Muscular Fatigue

Second, muscles that are weak from recent usage.

Third, if perform a unique task for the first time.

Last, a recurrence of the injury or development of an

injury as compensatory actions.
 Strain
Disruption of the muscle fibers, the muscle
tendon junction, the tendon or the bony
insertion of the muscle-tendon unit.

Causes:

• Excessive stretching (acute strain)

• Direct blow (contusion)
• Sudden in-coordinated contraction
• Repetitive loading (chronic strain)
• laceration
Flexibility, strength, endurance

FLEXIBILITY STRENGTH

ENDURANCE
 Acute and chronic strains occur when the
muscular or tendinious portion of the
muscle-tendon unit lacks the flexibility
strength or endurance to accommodate the
demands placed upon it.

Appreciating and
evaluating these three
qualities of the muscle
tendon unit are
important for treatment
and rehabilitation of
these injuries.
TREATMENT OF MUSCLE STRAIN
first 48 hours

1. Rest: to allow healing of the damaged

tissues.

2. Ice: - apply ice for up to 10 minutes as

soon after the injury as possible, do not
wait for the swelling to start. Repeat every
2 hours during the 1st 2 days

3. Compression: after ice apply a

compression bandage to help minimize the
swelling to the tissues.

4. Elevation: to help limit blood flow and

prevent use of muscles of the injured part.
 Gentle passive
stretching of injured Strengthening
muscle group. exercises
Subsequently, the Functional
individual is started (isometrics, DTFM training
on a more concentric,
aggressive eccentric)
stretching program.

After 48 hours
THANK
YOU