What are the classifications of abdominal strains?
A mild stretching of a muscle is diagnosed as a first degree muscle strain and can result in localized pain, mild swelling, and pain with movement, coughing, laughing, deep breathing, or sneezing. A more severe injury of an abdominal muscle is a partial tear (second degree). Depending on the amount of fibers torn, this type of injury may be quite debilitating for the athlete. The athlete may experience sudden abdominal pain, marked tenderness, localized swelling, and discoloration. Any and all movements of the athlete may be painful with the athlete guarded in his/her movements. A third degree muscle strain is the most severe injury and is diagnosed as a complete muscle rupture either at its insertion, origin, or midsection. Along with the symptoms of a second degree muscle strain, the athlete may also experience the symptoms of shock including nausea, vomiting, pale skin, excess perspiration, difficulty breathing, and a shallow and rapid heart rate. Athletes suspected of a full ruptur
