Abdominal Muscle Strain: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Here are the symptoms and causes of abdominal muscle strain and ways to treat this

ABDOMINAL MUSCLE STRAIN – This condition is also called pulled muscle and can be really painful. Here are its causes, symptoms, and treatment.

SYMPTOM

soreness or tenderness
pain or discomfort when touching the abdomen
swelling
bruising
muscle spasms
difficulty stretching the muscle
pain when moving or stretching
pain after an injury or excessive exercise

CAUSES

exercising the abdomen excessively
not warming up properly before exercise or strenuous activity
using the incorrect technique during exercise
incorrect lifting of heavy objects
suddenly twisting the body from the core
violently sneezing or coughing

Based on the article from Medical News Today, the pain can be treated through plenty of rest and by avoiding strenuous exercise or exertion. However, when these symptoms occur, you must see the doctor immediately:

sudden, lasting pain in the abdomen
worsening pain
nausea
vomiting
fever
a red and very tender bulge in the groin

TREATMENT

Abdominal muscle strain can be treated by resting the muscle until it recovers. When the pain is felt during physical activity, it is better to stop and do these things:

wrap an ice pack in a towel or cloth
apply the pack to the abdomen for 20 minutes
repeat 2–3 times each day

You can also seek the help of a healthcare professional to give you specific stretching activities to help your muscles recover. Heat can also help relax the muscle by having a hot compress for 10-15 minutes at a time, just be sure that there is no swelling.

Mild abdominal muscle strain can heal in a few weeks, while it will take 4-6 weeks for a more serious pulled muscle to heal, based on the article.