Strain? Tear?

Derek Maffett · 08-22-2007, 05:09 PM

Yet another injury.

I was doing cross pullouts for the first time and found after I was done that my right pectoral was hurting. Not too intense, but there. The pain is pretty much nonexistent now but it still hurts sometimes with tension. I iced it, but I am wondering what that was. A strain or something like that?

I think I know why it might have happened though. I have worked pullups a lot in comparison to pressing, so the lats might have been okay with going further in the cross but the pectorals were being forced to work too hard.

Derek Maffett · 08-24-2007, 04:22 PM

Anyone? Anyone at all?

Matt DeMinico · 08-24-2007, 07:47 PM

I think if it was torn it would hurt with almost ANY tension at all, but if it's strained, when you start to put it under a decent load it'd start hurting. But I'm no doctor.

Steven Low · 08-24-2007, 10:37 PM

Where does it hurt?

Derek Maffett · 08-24-2007, 11:38 PM

It's pretty much healed by now, whatever it was, but the pain was around the middle of the pectoral. I still would be interested to know what it was, though. Might help in not letting it happen again.

Kevin McGuinness · 08-25-2007, 07:38 PM

I too, am far from a doctor and unfortunately I'm starting my "Treatment of Athletic Injuries" class next week, BUT I am a rugby player... wait, that probably makes me a less reliable source doesnt it? Hmm...

Anyway, if it's healed in such a short amount of time, it was probably just a slight strain. As far as prevention goes, it may be a muscle imbalance as you suspect, or it could be a matter of form. I'm not sure how large a part the pecs play in pullups, but being a pulling motion I would imagine they act mostly as stablizers. Either way, work on strengthening your chest once its fully healed with wide pushups and dips to prevent future injury.

Derek Maffett · 08-25-2007, 07:41 PM

Did some dips today and didn't feel a thing. Must have been a small issue. I'll be working dips more often now and try to get the pressing strength more on par with pulling.

Kevin King · 08-26-2007, 09:29 PM

Your quick recovery implies a strain, pull or otherwise. Muscle ruptures, particularly pectoralis ruptures are pretty durned dramatic injuries that are excruciating.

Glad you're feeling better.

-- KK

08-22-2007, 05:09 PM	#1
Derek Maffett Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Castle Rock WA Posts: 3,544	Strain? Tear? Yet another injury. I was doing cross pullouts for the first time and found after I was done that my right pectoral was hurting. Not too intense, but there. The pain is pretty much nonexistent now but it still hurts sometimes with tension. I iced it, but I am wondering what that was. A strain or something like that? I think I know why it might have happened though. I have worked pullups a lot in comparison to pressing, so the lats might have been okay with going further in the cross but the pectorals were being forced to work too hard.

08-24-2007, 04:22 PM	#2
Derek Maffett Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Castle Rock WA Posts: 3,544	Re: Strain? Tear? Anyone? Anyone at all?

08-24-2007, 07:47 PM	#3
Matt DeMinico Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling Heights MI Posts: 1,939	Re: Strain? Tear? I think if it was torn it would hurt with almost ANY tension at all, but if it's strained, when you start to put it under a decent load it'd start hurting. But I'm no doctor.

08-24-2007, 10:37 PM	#4
Steven Low Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: silver spring maryland Posts: 12,221	Re: Strain? Tear? Where does it hurt?

08-24-2007, 11:38 PM	#5
Derek Maffett Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Castle Rock WA Posts: 3,544	Re: Strain? Tear? It's pretty much healed by now, whatever it was, but the pain was around the middle of the pectoral. I still would be interested to know what it was, though. Might help in not letting it happen again.

08-25-2007, 07:38 PM	#6
Kevin McGuinness Member Profile: Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Caldwell New Jersey Posts: 39	Re: Strain? Tear? I too, am far from a doctor and unfortunately I'm starting my "Treatment of Athletic Injuries" class next week, BUT I am a rugby player... wait, that probably makes me a less reliable source doesnt it? Hmm... Anyway, if it's healed in such a short amount of time, it was probably just a slight strain. As far as prevention goes, it may be a muscle imbalance as you suspect, or it could be a matter of form. I'm not sure how large a part the pecs play in pullups, but being a pulling motion I would imagine they act mostly as stablizers. Either way, work on strengthening your chest once its fully healed with wide pushups and dips to prevent future injury.

08-25-2007, 07:41 PM	#7
Derek Maffett Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Castle Rock WA Posts: 3,544	Re: Strain? Tear? Did some dips today and didn't feel a thing. Must have been a small issue. I'll be working dips more often now and try to get the pressing strength more on par with pulling.

08-26-2007, 09:29 PM	#8
Kevin King Member Profile: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clarksville TN Posts: 35	Re: Strain? Tear? Your quick recovery implies a strain, pull or otherwise. Muscle ruptures, particularly pectoralis ruptures are pretty durned dramatic injuries that are excruciating. Glad you're feeling better. -- KK

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