How to figure out if I tore my pec?

[Pete Nice]

Was doing flat bench today, and after unracking the weight and moving in to my first rep I felt a sensation of about three pops in my upper pec shoulder area.  This was followed by some immediate pain, and swelling in the pec area.  I do not have any bruising yet, and the muscle did not seem to roll up in to the pec, but the swelling is fairly significant in the general area.  Any chance this is just a strain, or does it sound like a pec tear?  Anyone have any experience with this injury?

[benchmstr]

i tore a pec...trust me..you will know...you turn black and blue

bench

[Royalty]

Are you taking steroids?


I've never met a natural guy that tore his pec on bench presses. I've met a few guys that took steroids that have though.

[CalvinH]

Pip

[El Diablo Blanco]

If you have serious pain while wiping your ass.

[Thin Lizzy]

Sounds like partial tear. If so, you'll probably have some bruising in a day. It's a 3-4 week injury before you start benching again with baby weights and another month or so before you're back to where you were before the injury.

[disco_stu]

if u actually feel pops then its torn.

torn severely causes bruising. you dont need bruising to have a tear.

you will know if its torn if it hurts when you move. but for sure if you heard or felt a pop, and theres swelling, you tore something.

weight training is a long term pursuit- dont do anything for a few weeks and let it heal. rush back and you could end your BB days by wrecking yourself. then you'd be pissed. a few weeks of nothing is much better than a lifetime of a deforming injury.

[Noel Fuller]

Heavy bruising almost immediately

[SF1900]

Hmm, so you want to figure out if you tore your pec. You have 1 of 2 options:

1) Ask getbiggers, because all getbiggers are experts on medicine.

OR

2) Go see an actual medical doctor.


This is a tough call. Getbig is filled with experts related to a variety of disciplines, including physics, biology, psychology, history, economics, politics, chemistry, medicine, sociology, etc.

[_aj_]

Hmm, so you want to figure out if you tore your pec. You have 1 of 2 options:

1) Ask getbiggers, because all getbiggers are experts on medicine.

OR

2) Go see an actual medical doctor.


This is a tough call. Getbig is filled with experts related to a variety of disciplines, including physics, biology, psychology, history, economics, politics, chemistry, medicine, sociology, etc.

I can diagnose via his single post...

...he's good.

Keep hangin' and bangin' bro!

[Nails]

how much were you bench pressing 

[SF1900]

I can diagnose via his single post...

...he's good.

Keep hangin' and bangin' bro!

Getbiggers dont even need to see the client. They diagnose from their computers.

[SF1900]

how much were you bench pressing 

He posts on getbig, therefore 405X12

[Option D]

did it turn colors?

[Pete Nice]

It's been about 4 hours, has not changed color at all yet, but very sore, and the swelling is pretty heavy.  I got into an ortho, buts still two weeks away.  Could just be a strain, but don't want to downplay it due to the actual occurrence, and the feeling when it happened.  I've always been told you will know right away when you tear a muscle, but I'm not sure in this case. 

Does a torn pec require surgery in most cases?

[BB]

It's probably along the lines of a grade 1 pec strain/tear, if you can't see bruising or feel any deformation in it.You'll just need to rest it for a couple of weeks and add in some stretching and very light warm ups like isometric work over the course of that time. If it was more serious, you'd definitely see a decent amount of bruising, etc....

[_aj_]

OP might want to swear off bench for a while. You may never go back.

[Nails]

He posts on getbig, therefore 405X12

Just warming up i see

[SF1900]

Just warming up i see

LMAO!!! 

[Waller]

Dig around the pec with your finger tips when you are able. Tears can be felt, feel for gaps in the muscle, indentations, little ridges running along the pec. If you're unsure if what you're feeling is unusual reference your other pec.

That may give you an answer.

[Royalty]

It's probably along the lines of a grade 1 pec strain/tear, if you can't see bruising or feel any deformation in it.You'll just need to rest it for a couple of weeks and add in some stretching and very light warm ups like isometric work over the course of that time. If it was more serious, you'd definitely see a decent amount of bruising, etc....

I would be careful about stretching the pec until the swelling goes down

[BB]

I would be careful about stretching the pec until the swelling goes down

Yeah, not the first day, but like a week or so in. It takes a while physically to get over even a light one, and then mentally it takes even longer  .

[Pete Nice]

How often do pec tears require surgery?

[BB]

How often do pec tears require surgery?

You won't know till/if you have a doctor look at it, but it's still pretty rare, all things considered. But if they recommend it, take it. The recovery rates in relation to physical performance are much better that opting for non surgical treatment. 

[Mr Anabolic]

I hope you are icing it.

Might as well accept it right now... your heavy benching days are over.