Abdominal Muscle Pain

What appears to be abdominal muscle pain could be simple muscle pain caused by a muscle strain or pain caused by a serious internal condition. Thus it's important to consult your doctor if you experience abdominal pain. This article looks at abdominal muscle strain, which is when muscle or tendon fibers are overstretched or torn, leading to inflammation and pain.

Causes

• Forceful or vigorous activity, such as heavy lifting or hard coughing or sneezing, can cause an abdominal muscle strain.

Diagnosis

• Your doctor will examine your abdomen and ask you to do a sit-up or crunch to check your symptoms. Your doctor will also look for a bulge in your abdomen, which would indicate an abdominal wall hernia, which can occur if a tear goes all the way through the muscles and the covering of the abdomen.

Treatment

• To treat an abdominal muscle strain, ice the injured area for about 20 minutes every three to four hours until the pain goes away. You may also take anti-inflammatory medications as recommended by your doctor, and do rehab exercises to tone the muscles. If you have an abdominal hernia, you may require surgery.

Considerations

• According to the University of Michigan Health System, it's safe to return to your normal activities when you can bend at the waist to reach toward your toes and then straighten up without pain.

Prevention

• Well-toned abdominal muscles are the best way to prevent abdominal muscle strain. Also, be sure to lift heavy objects correctly, with knees bent and your back and abdomen straight.