Differences between a muscle contracture and a muscle fibre tear

The symptoms of a muscle tear and a muscle contracture are very similar, but they are not the same: a contracture is a mild injury, while a fibre tear is a severe injury.

We usually first notice them as a very specific “stabbing” sensation in the muscle that feels unpleasant and uncomfortable and, in most cases, prevents us from continuing our training. This stabbing pain is a symptom that the muscle has suffered a setback: a muscle contracture or a fibre tear.

When you feel this stabbing pain, the best thing to do is stop the physical activity you are doing and contact a physiotherapist who can assess you and provide a diagnosis.

What is a contracture and how can it be treated?

Dry needling

A muscle contracture is a sustained, involuntary and persistent contraction of the muscle that prevents you from continuing your sporting activity. In many cases, if the fibre is very superficial, it can be identified visually because a kind of lump forms.

To prevent contractures, it is advisable to warm up well before starting any intense physical activity and to finish with a thorough stretch, aiming to restore the muscle to its initial length.

If the contracture has already occurred, recommended options include applying heat to help clear lactate, massage, immersion baths, dry needling where trigger points are present, stretching with cold, INDIBA® sessions, etc.

And a fibre tear?

A fibre tear usually occurs after an abrupt and excessive stretching of the muscle, causing its fibres to rupture, with pain and loss of function. The severity depends on the extent of the fibre rupture within the muscle, so recovery — beyond the degree of injury and the type of patient — progresses at roughly 1 cm per week, which gives us the estimated scarring time. Note that scarring is not the same as recovery: additional time, between 1 and 3 weeks, is needed to get the muscles back in shape and return to sport with confidence.

To prevent a muscle tear, we should regularly release muscle tension through frequent stretching and massage.

However, if the tear has already occurred, treatment is guided by its grade. Usually, cold is applied in the first few days to control and prevent inflammation in the area, along with compression bandaging and relative rest. From the third day, the physiotherapist can begin treatment with release massage, controlled or very gentle stretching and isometric contractions.

In more advanced stages of treatment, more intense and longer massage and stretching are introduced, complemented with strength exercises to recondition the muscle and enable a safe return to sport.

At Akro our physiotherapists can carry out an initial assessment of your case with ultrasound support. Don't hesitate to book your assessment appointment.