How can you tell the difference between a muscle pull and a tear?

Question

i just started playing football and i think i pulled one of my quads on the first day of practice and it started to get better but on friday I did something to it again but it hurts a lot worse and i don't know if its a pull or a tear

Answer 1

If it was a tear you would be crying and screaming and couldn't move at all. If its a pull its only sore when you try to use it, kind of cramps up. I would try to stay off it, or try not to hurt it for a couple days. Keep it on ice. You'd probably really know if it was a tear. Those things are absolutely brutal.