Muscle injuries

Muscle injuries are common in many sports activities, everyday life and work. Despite the high rate of muscle trauma, their management criteria are not clear even to dedicated health professionals, and very often the recommended and popular treatment modalities do not respect the biological characteristics of tissue repair, involving prolonged immobilizations, application of heat and massage too early after the injury.

The Italian Society of Muscle, Ligaments & Tendons (I.S.Mu.L.T.) promotes widespread dissemination of therapeutic and diagnostic principles in muscle injuries based on the previous classification reviewed and updated according to the most recent scientific literature. The present scientific experience shows that often muscular injuries are difficult to classify and treat, sometimes causing misunderstandings with the coach and the athlete himself.

In this respect, one of the objectives of I.S.Mu.L.T. is to draw attention to the importance of collecting clinical evidence through accurate history taking and clinical examination in order to formulate a precise diagnostic suspicion before subjecting the patient to investigations. The clinical findings and a well performed ultrasound examination are often sufficient to reach a correct diagnosis in most patients.

The indication to perform Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), bearing in mind that most scientific works use 1.5-3 Tesla machines, must be clear and precise. All this in a logic of cost effectiveness and regulated access to health facilities that otherwise would be overcome by requests for examinations, objectively difficult to justify. The I.S.Mu.L.T. Guidelines offer a valid support to the health care professionals to formulate a precise diagnostic suspect, prescribe the most appropriate investigations, and plan the most effective treatment modality.