What conditions can affect the abdominal muscles (‘abs’)?
The most common condition affecting the abdominal muscles are abdominal strains or pulls, which occur with:
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- Overuse of your abs.
- Quick, violent twisting of the trunk.
Strains can involve tiny, minor tears in the muscle fibers to severe pulls that can even detach the muscle.
This type of injury is more common in sports that require twisting, such as tennis, football, baseball and golf. Symptoms of a significant strain include:
- Difficulty moving.
- Muscle spasms in your core.
- Trunk pain while exercising, laughing, coughing or sneezing.
- Swelling or bruising.
- Trouble breathing in severe cases.
Treatment for an abdominal strain may involve:
- Local compresses (ice pack/heat).
- Gentle stretches, as long as they don’t hurt.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (oral or topical cream).
- Physical therapy.
- Rest.
- Compression (binders) (check with your doctor regarding their indication and length of use).
What other conditions can affect the abdominal muscles?
Another health issue in the abdominal muscles is a hernia. A hernia is when an internal organ pushes through a weak spot in the muscle. For example, the small intestines may push through a weakened abdominal muscle in the groin area, causing an inguinal hernia. Symptoms of a hernia include:
- Aches or pain at the site of the hernia.
- Bump or bulge that you can see and feel, more visible with straining.
- Heaviness, ache at the site of the swelling.
- Pain and/or bulging when lifting something.
