Anything more than a minor rupture should be referred to a Doctor. Within 48-72 hrs a firm diagnosis whether it is intramuscular or intermuscular bleeding can be made. Appropriate treatment is usually decided after this point and in some cases surgery may be required to put back together tears.

After 72 hours it may be possible to start the rehabilitation process using the following guidelines:

• Static exercises without load
• Static exercises with a light load
• Limited dynamic muscle exercise within range of movement not causing pain
• Dynamic exercise with increasing load
• Stretching exercises to improve ROM (including antagonists)
• Proprioceptive training to improve co-ordination
• Sport specific training

Muscle ruptures usually take between 3-16 weeks to heal depending upon the location and extent of injury.