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Definition
- Arm muscle pain from hard work or sports (muscle overuse)
- Pain is not caused by an injury
- Also called muscle overuse syndrome
Health Information
Symptoms
- Pain in the arm muscles
- The shoulder is the most common site
Pain Scale
- Mild: Your child feels pain and tells you about it. But, the pain does not keep your child from any normal activities. School, play and sleep are not changed.
- Moderate: The pain keeps your child from doing some normal activities. It may wake him or her up from sleep.
- Severe: The pain is very bad. It keeps your child from doing all normal activities.
Causes
- Arm pains are often from hard work or sports.
- Examples are too much throwing or swimming.
- Also called Muscle Overuse or Strained Muscles.
Care Advice
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Overview:
- Strained muscles are common after using them too much during sports.
- An example is throwing a ball over and over again.
- Weekend warriors who are out of shape get the most muscle pains.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
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Pain Medicine:
- To help with the pain, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Use as needed.
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Cold Pack:
- For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
- Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
- Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
- Caution: Avoid frostbite.
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Heat Pack:
- If pain lasts over 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
- Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
- Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
- Caution: Avoid burns.
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What to Expect:
- A strained muscle hurts for 2 or 3 days.
- The pain often peaks on day 2.
- After severe overuse, the pain may last a week.
Call Your Doctor If
- Fever or swollen joint occurs
- Pain caused by work or sports lasts over 7 days
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Pain gets worse
Author: Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP
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