A goalkeeper suffered a rare muscle injury while throwing the ball during a football match.
The first case report of a professional footballer tearing his teres major is captured in images published in the online journal BMJ Case Reports.
The complete rupture of the teres major, one of seven muscles of the upper limb that connects the long bone in the arm to the shoulder blade, is an extremely rare injury that tends to occur in baseball players - mostly pitchers who throw the ball.
The 33-year-old keeper had pain in his right shoulder after injuring himself, but continued playing until the end of the match with increasing pain and limited movements.
The next day he sought medical attention and an MRI scan confirmed the nature of the injury.
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Doctors initiated conservative treatment of "protection, rest, ice, compression and evaluation" in the first week.
This was followed in the second week with physiotherapy to help him gain motion and strength, during which he had no pain, good mobility and improved strength. An ultrasound showed stabilisation of the muscle.
He returned to competitive football after 18 days.
The case was reported by doctors in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
