If you experience severe pain or soreness around your abdomen after a workout session or sports game, then you may be suffering from abdominal strain. As abdominal sports injuries go, abdominal strain is one of the most common, as people regularly overwork their core muscles during exercise regimens, without realizing that they could be doing damage.

A muscle strain occurs when there is a tear within the muscle - meaning that muscle fibers have been forcibly stretched beyond their limits. In the world of abdominal sports injuries, abdominal strains can be ranked in severity:

• First degree strains define an issue where there is damage to a few muscle fibers
• Second degree strains define an issue where there is damage to an extensive number of fibers
• Third decree strains define an issue where there is a complete rupture of the muscle itself

Abdominal Sports Injuries: Strain Symptoms

With a mild abdominal muscle strain, you may not notice the signs of injuries until you are resting after a game. Over time, you may find that cramping sensations begin to form in your stomach, or you feel tightness where the muscles are contracted. In second degree strains, there will be more immediate pain which can be confirmed by the stretch and contraction of the muscle. You might even find that these abdominal sports injuries are painful to touch.

In a third degree strain, you'll feel an immediate stabbing pain and could have difficulty moving. Because the muscle is completely torn, there may be a bulge of soft tissue through the upper muscle layers - known as a hernia.

Treating Abdominal Sports Injuries

While you should always see a doctor immediately following severe abdominal sports injuries, many minor problems can be fixed through a combination of rest, cold therapy, and compression. Ice packs will help to reduce the pain and inflammation, while stopping the presence of bleeding within damaged tissue.

Applying a can help to improve circulation and encourage faster healing while you rest and recuperate. However, many experts suggest that wearing these belts during exercise can also be a good solution for preventing strains and abdominal sports injuries in the first place. The reason for this is that compression belts help to hold your muscles in place, assist you in keeping proper posture, and offer extra support.

Other Ways to Prevent Abdominal Sports Injuries

Beside using compression bandages, you may be able to prevent abdominal sports injuries by warming up thoroughly before a training session, as this will help to make the muscle tissue more malleable when you do begin to exercise.

At the same time, sticking to a regular workout schedule that helps to enhance muscle strength and flexibility around the abdominal area can also be a useful way to prevent exertion, soreness, and strains. Better muscle strength gives athletes the opportunity to carry out activities in a more controlled manner, decreasing the chances of uncoordinated movements which may pull the abdominal muscles out of position and lead to injury.