Mahendra Singh Dhoni's injury: What exactly is a side strain?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is set to the miss the Asia Cup due to a side strain injury. Find out exactly what a side strain injury is.

Written By: Nirmalya Dutta | Updated : March 1, 2014 7:14 PM IST

Things keep getting worse for Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After getting flak from all corners for his 'obnoxious and defensive' captaincy which saw India hammered abroad, Captain Cool is set to miss the Asia Cup with a side strain injury. 'MS Dhoni has been ruled out of the forthcoming Asia Cup, to be played in Bangladesh, in February-March 2014. He sustained a Grade I left side-strain injury during the course of the second Test against New Zealand. He will be undergoing rehabilitation for ten days,' BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement. Tamil Nadu's wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Kartik has been picked as Dhoni's replacement.

So what's a side strain injury?

Actually a side strain is a fairly common cricket injury which usually occurs to bowlers, which Mahi has done a couple of times over the last few months given India's bowling predicament but it's likelier he picked it up while keeping.

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The side-strain refers to a tear in either the internal oblique, the external oblique or the transversalis fascia (muscles on the side) at the point where they connect with the four bottom ribs. These muscles are responsible for twisting movements or bending of the drunk. In bowlers, the injury usually occurs along the non-bowling arm side as a result of a forcible contraction of the muscle as it gets stretched every time a bowler throws the ball.

Types of side strain

Depending on the injury, a side strain can be classified as

A first degree side strain where a few muscle fibres are damaged
A second degree strain where the damage is more extensive and extends to more muscle fibres
A third degree strain where there's a complete rupture of the muscle itself

Symptoms of a side strain

The symptoms also vary depending on the severity of the injury. A first degree strain will cause a feeling of tightness and pain in the lower ribs region, near the elbow. A second degree one will result in greater pain with even a little movement and is extremely sore to touch. In a third degree side strain, there is a complete rupture of the muscle and all movements and breathing can be very painful. Usually, a large bruise will appear below the injury site which indicates bleeding within the tissues. If you suffer from any of the symptoms, you should apply a cold pack to relieve the pain. In severe cases you might need to wear a back support. Always consult a sports therapist if you suffer from any of the symptoms.

Treatment for a side-strain

The immediate treatment involves rest, ice and compression. This helps reduce bleeding and damage within the muscle tissue. People suffering from side strains usually need to take 3-6 weeks out depending on the severity of the injury while a complete rupture will at least 2-3 months away from the game. In a week or so, physiotherapists generally ask the injured player to start doing general resistance exercises and stretching to help re-align the scar tissue that forms during the healing process. Read more about these core conditioning exercises.

After a week, gentle resistance exercises and side stretching are important as they help to align the scar tissue that forms during the healing process. Generally, resistance bands are used to achieve this and sets and reps are gradually increased until finally the core strengthening exercises can be initiated.

We from TheHealthSite.com wish Mahendra Singh Dhoni a quick recovery and hope to have him back on the field soon.