Abdominal Muscle Strain in Children

Abdominal muscle strain in children occurs when the stomach muscles are stretched and in severe cases torn. This condition is often not serious, but causes great discomfort in a child.

Effects

• Children that have strained their abdominal muscles will experience pain, tenderness and muscle stiffness in their abdomen.

Causes

• Causes of abdominal muscle strain in children include overworking the muscles when participating in physical activities, excessive coughing and excessive sneezing.

Identification

• To identify the cause of the abdominal muscle strain, a doctor will examine the child's abdomen and ask them a serious of questions about what led up to the pain. In some cases, the doctor will order an x-ray to make sure the abdominal muscles are not torn.

Treatment

• A doctor will order the child to stop physical activities to speed up healing of the abdominal muscles. If the child is in extreme pain, ice is applied and an anti-inflammatory medication is administered.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent the abdominal muscles from being strained, children should avoid activities where they overwork their abdominal muscles and take frequent breaks when involved in activities where the abdominal muscles are frequently used.