gezerrte

Gezerrte is a German adjective formed from the past participle gezerrt of the verb zerren. It describes something that has been stretched, pulled, or strained. In medical and sports contexts, gezerrte commonly refers to soft-tissue injuries such as gezerrte Muskeln (pulled muscles), gezerrte Bänder (strained ligaments), and gezerrte Sehnen (strained tendons). The term can also be used non-medically, for example gezerrte Stimmen, describing a voice that is strained after heavy use.

Etymology and form: The ge- prefix marks the past participle; as an adjective it agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. In singular forms: der gezerrte Muskel; die gezerrte Schulter; das gezerrte Knie. Indefinite articles yield: ein gezerrter Muskel; eine gezerrte Schulter; ein gezerrtes Knie. Plural: die gezerrten Muskeln; die gezerrten Bänder.

Usage and nuance: Gezerrte implies overstretching or pulling without necessarily a complete rupture. For complete tears, terms such as gerissen or gerissene Bänder are used. In medical reporting, gezerrte Muskeln or gezerrte Bänder describe injuries with partial damage and varying recovery times. Examples: Der Athlet hat sich eine gezerrte Schulter zugezogen. Die gezerrten Muskeln behindern das Training.

See also: Zerrung, Muskelzerrung, Verstauchung, Überdehnung.