What causes a leg muscle strain?
![A muscle strain usually results when it is overly stretched, and the muscle fibers tear. A mild or grade I strain may need ten days to three weeks to heal where a severe strain to the hamstrings may take up to six months.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/how-do-you-loosen-tight-hamstrings.jpg?output-quality=75)
A muscle strain usually results when it is overly stretched, and the muscle fibers tear. Strains often happen near places where muscles connect to tendons.
Once you have strained a muscle, it may be prone to reinjury. This is true of leg strains. Proper healing is important, and preventative measures should be followed to prevent a leg strain from happening again.
Stretching or tearing of muscle fibers is known as a muscle strain. Strains usually occur for one of two reasons:
- The muscle was stretched beyond its limitations
- The muscle was forced to contract too far
The thigh has three large muscle sets — hamstrings, quadriceps, and the adductor muscles. The quadriceps and hamstrings are at high risk for muscle strains. This is because they cross both the knee joint and the hip joint. They are also used in activities that are high speed like running and soccer.
In minor strains, only a few muscle fibers are affected and the muscle remains strong. In major strains, the muscle may be torn, and you may not be able to properly use your leg. There are three grades to a muscle strain:
- Grade I — mild. Few muscle fibers are affected. There is tenderness but muscle strength remains.
- Grade II — moderate. More muscle fibers are affected. There is more pain and tenderness, along with mild swelling and some loss of strength
- Grade III — severe. The muscle is torn all the way through. There may be a "pop" sensation as the muscle sheds from tendon, a loss of muscle function, pain, discoloration, and swelling, and a possible dent under the skin
How long does it take for a leg muscle strain to heal?
Once your leg muscle is strained, time and rest are needed to allow the muscle to heal. A mild or grade I strain may need ten days to three weeks to heal. A severe strain to the hamstrings may take up to six months.
The healing outlook depends on the location and the severity of the muscle strain. In general, mild leg strains heal within weeks — major strains months, with surgical intervention if necessary.
Who can get leg muscle strain?
There are many factors that can put you at risk for muscle strain. These include:
- Muscle fatigue
- Muscle tightness
- Poor conditioning
- Muscle imbalance
Participating in contact sports like football and hockey can also increase your risk of getting a muscle strain. Participating in certain sports puts some sets of body muscles more at risk for strains. Quick start and jumping sports like basketball can cause leg strains.
What are the symptoms of a leg muscle strain?
Common symptoms of a leg muscle strain include:
- Abrupt severe pain
- Snap or pop sensation when the muscle tears
- Injured area painful to touch
- Visible bruising
Depending on the severity, symptoms may also include :
- Redness
- Muscle spasms
- Limited motion
- Muscle weakness
How is a leg muscle strain diagnosed?
Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and take a medical history to see how you obtained your injury. They may also ask if a pop was heard during the injury. They will also look for difficulty walking and a decrease in muscle strength.
Minor strains may not require more testing. If a major injury is suspected, X-rays or an MRI may be ordered. If the injury is in your calf, your doctor may want an ultrasound done to make sure you don’t have a blood clot.
How do you treat leg muscle strain?
Treatment for leg muscle strains varies depending on severity. First-line treatment includes RICE:
- Rest — getting away from the activity that caused your injury
- Ice — use of cold packs for swelling
- Compression — lightly wrapping the injured area to prevent additional swelling
- Elevation — propping your leg up above your heart level to minimize swelling
Your doctor may advise you to take medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. As you get better, physical therapy may be added to your treatment. This will build stability and strength in the injured part of your leg. In cases of severe strains, surgery may be indicated.
Overall, the outlook for a mild sprain is good. Routine stretching and strengthening exercises at your fitness level help to decrease your risk for leg muscle strains.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com//images/slideshow/least_effective_exercises_s1_man_after_workout.jpg)
SLIDESHOW
Pictures of the 7 Riskiest Workout Moves, and How to Improve Them See SlideshowDrugs.com: "Leg Strain Guide: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options."
Harvard Health Publishing: "Muscle Strain."
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute: "Thigh Muscle Strains: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention."
Mayo Clinic: "Muscle Strains."
OrthoInfo: "Muscle Strains in the Thigh."
Top How Long It Takes for Strained Leg Muscle to Heal Related Articles
capsaicin topical
Capsaicin topical is a pain-relieving (analgesic) medication available as over-the-counter (OTC) as topical creams, gels, and liquids used for the temporary relief of minor joint and muscle pains due to muscle strains, sprains, or cramps, bruises, arthritis, and backache. Capsaicin is also used off-label to relieve nerve pain (neuralgia) caused by certain nerve conditions (neuropathies). Common side effects of capsaicin topical include redness, pain, transient increased pain at the application site, raised bumps in the skin (papules), itching (pruritus), nausea, vomiting, swelling (edema), dryness, high blood pressure (hypertension), bronchial inflammation (bronchitis), sinus inflammation (sinusitis), skin odor, skin peeling (exfoliation), headache, dizziness, taste perversion (dysgeusia), and cough.Healthy Aging: Causes of Muscle Weakness
From aging to illness, many things can cause your muscles to get weaker. Learn about the causes and what you can do to make it better.How Long Does It Take for a Muscle Strain to Heal?
A muscle strain occurs when muscle fibers are overstretched and tear. Learn more about muscle strains, how muscle strains happen, muscle strain symptoms, muscle strain diagnosis, and muscle strain treatment options. Receive information on how a sprain and strain differ.How Long Does it Take for an Oblique Strain to Heal?
An oblique strain is a specific injury that affects your abdominal muscles. An oblique strain may heal within a few weeks to six weeks.How Long Does It Take for Repetitive Strain Injury to Heal?
A repetitive strain injury (RSI) can heal within a few weeks to six months depending on the severity of the injury and available medical treatment.Is a Muscle Strain the Same as a Muscle Tear?
What is the difference between a muscle strain and a muscle tear?Is My Muscle Pulled or Strained?
A pulled muscle is sometimes used as a colloquial term for a strain of moderate severity. A muscle becomes strained when it’s twisted, pulled, or torn in two.methocarbamol
Methocarbamol is a medication used to relieve muscle spasms, and relax neck and jaw muscle contraction (lockjaw) caused by tetanus, a serious bacterial infection. Common side effects of methocarbamol include slow heart rate (bradycardia), low blood pressure (hypotension), inflammation with blood clots in the vein (thrombophlebitis), fainting (syncope), flushing, confusion, memory loss (amnesia), sleeplessness (insomnia), dizziness/lightheadedness, vertigo, drowsiness, sedation, mild impairment of muscular coordination, seizures (including grand mal), double vision (diplopia), and others.Muscle Pain (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)
Muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome) is muscle pain in the body's soft tissues due to injury or strain. Symptoms include muscle pain with tender points and fatigue. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, massage therapy, or trigger point injection.Pain Management: Signs Your Muscle Pain Is Something Else
Could your achy muscles be a sign of more than a tough workout? Learn when a twinge might warrant a visit to the doctor's office.Sprains and Strains
An injury to a ligament is called a sprain, and an injury to muscle or tendon is called a strain. Sprains and strains may be caused by repetitive movements or a single stressful incident. Symptoms and signs include pain and swelling. Though treatment depends upon the extent and location of the injury, rest, ice, compression, and elevation are key elements of treatment.trolamine salicylate
Trolamine salicylate is a medication used for temporary relief from mild to moderate aches and pains of muscles and joints, associated with conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, lower back pain, muscle sprains and strains, muscle soreness from exercise, cramps, bruises, and tendon or ligament pains. Common side effects of trolamine salicylate include blistering, peeling, redness, irritation, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fast breathing (hyperventilation), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), confusion, and drowsiness. Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding.What Are the Three Grades of Muscle Strain?
Depending on the severity of damage, muscle strains are classified into three grades. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatment.