What is a Grade I muscle strain?

What is a Grade I muscle strain?

• A. Mild fibre stretching with local tenderness, healing in 1 to 3 weeks.
• B. Partial tearing of fibres, healing in 4 to 8 weeks.
• C. Complete rupture, recovery 3 months or more.
• D. Local contusion with swelling.

Answer: (A)

Grade I muscle strain involves mild stretching or microscopic tearing of a small number of muscle fibers, causing local tenderness and pain with movement but usually preserving most strength. Healing typically occurs in about 1 to 3 weeks as the fibers recover without extensive tearing. That’s why describing it as mild fibre stretching with local tenderness and a 1–3 week healing time fits best. By contrast, a partial tear means a Grade II strain with a longer recovery (roughly 4–8 weeks), a complete rupture is a Grade III strain with recovery extending to months, and a local contusion is a bruise from impact, not a muscle strain.

Grade I muscle strain involves mild stretching or microscopic tearing of a small number of muscle fibers, causing local tenderness and pain with movement but usually preserving most strength. Healing typically occurs in about 1 to 3 weeks as the fibers recover without extensive tearing. That’s why describing it as mild fibre stretching with local tenderness and a 1–3 week healing time fits best. By contrast, a partial tear means a Grade II strain with a longer recovery (roughly 4–8 weeks), a complete rupture is a Grade III strain with recovery extending to months, and a local contusion is a bruise from impact, not a muscle strain.