What characterizes a grade 2 muscle strain?

A grade 2 muscle strain is characterized by significant tearing of some muscle fibers, which leads to pain during active contraction of the affected muscle. This type of strain typically presents with moderate swelling and tenderness, and the athlete may experience some degree of functional impairment, but not complete loss of function. Unlike a grade 1 strain where the muscle fibers remain intact and minor pain might be felt, grade 2 indicates a more serious injury that involves partial tearing of the muscle fibers. Therefore, pain during movement is a hallmark of this type of strain, distinguishing it from a grade 1 strain and a grade 3 strain, where there may be a complete tear and potentially more severe symptoms.