Sprained pec major?

[flying scotsman]

My wife was performing a uni-lateral pull-over with DB's last week and we think she's sprained the one of her pec muscles.

She had just done 20 reps of pec flyes - no bother - and went straight into her first pull-over and she felt an ache in her upper chest. Rather than call it quits, she continued for the remainder of her reps, with the pain neither getting worse or better.

Now, whenever she tries to perform any action involving putting weight on her right arm (which leads to involvement with the pecs) it gives her grief.

Other than rest, is there anything we can do to try and improve the condition?

I'd appreciate any advice.

[Bill Hartman]

Can she raise her arm overhead without pain?

Bill

[flying scotsman]

Originally posted by Bill Hartman:
Can she raise her arm overhead without pain?

Bill

Hi Bill,

Sorry for the delay in getting back - we're in the UK and working while you're asleep and vice versa [img]smile.gif[/img]

My wife can raise her arm above her head and is aware of a slight pain in the upper chest area toward the armpit.
However, she is aware of the problem all the time without doing anything, and this makes her hesitant before using that arm.

Although today she said it is feeling better, she says that she notices the pain most when doing the little things, like opening the car door, or the door handle to the office, and especially in an action like chopping fruit or vegetables with a knife.

Does this help? I hope so [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Bill Hartman]

If it is a pec strain, it'll heal by itself. Unless there's a big deformity and bruising, they most likely wouldn't do much but order some physio for stretching and strengthening.

If the area of pain is close to the shoulder then a shoulder injury needs to be ruled out. If it persists, get it looked at.

Bill

[bryanc]

Originally posted by flying scotsman:

Although today she said it is feeling better, she says that she notices the pain most when doing the little things, like opening the car door, or the door handle to the office, and especially in an action like chopping fruit or vegetables with a knife.

Does this help? I hope so [img]smile.gif[/img]

This symptom concerns me and suggests that there is more going on than potentially what you suspect to be a pec strain. What is the quality of her pain? Does she get shooting or tingling pain down her arm? Chopping fruit and opening door handles should not cause significant pain if all that is wrong is a pec major sprain/strain.