Your pulled arm muscles will be assigned a grade based on the following:
Grade 1
You have experienced some overstretching of the muscles and micro-tearing of the fibers. You may
experience:
tightness in the front of the upper arm (biceps) or back of the upper arm (triceps)
ability to flex and extend you arm at the elbow, but aware of discomfort
minimal swelling
contracting the affected muscle, especially against resistance, will not cause too much pain
Grade 2
You have experienced partial tearing of the muscle fibers. You may experience:
twinges of pain during activity
visible swelling and pressure will increase pain
bruising, redness, and warmth on the upper arm
ability to flex or extend the arm at the elbow is compromised
pain when contracting the muscle, especially against resistance
Grade 3
You have fully torn (ruptured) some muscle fibers in your biceps or triceps. You may experience:
severe pain, especially when contracting the muscle with or without resistance
visible and immediate swelling
contraction will cause pain and potential bulging/spasm of the muscle
range of motion and overall mobility will be limited or suspended
Chronic Injury
Not categorized as a grade 1, 2 or 3, chronic injuries are characterized by the fact that they keep
occurring. When you experience multiple arm muscle pulls over the course of several months to several
years, it is a sign that you have some internal damage or weakness that the body has not yet been able to
overcome. Taking the time to recovery properly will pay dividends later on. Chronic injuries
usually mean scar tissue, which can cause difficulties later in life as the body naturally becomes
weaker.
