A strain is an injury to the muscle which occurs when muscle is overstretched. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, inflammation and bruising. It is important to stretch before and after working out, as this greatly reduces the possibility of straining muscles. The weight training professionals at our health clubs can help you develop a warm-up and cool-down routine to help you prevent injury. Check out our weight training, muscle toning, or ab sculpting classes for more details. Or just type your zipcode in the box below to see if we have a health club in your area.