These bruises result from microscopic tears in blood vessels under the skin.

Delayed onset muscle soreness has been postulated as being from microscopic tears in the muscles, although there is no scientific evidence for this.

That constant tugging can eventually cause microscopic tears in the tissue.

Doctors told Brown he now has microscopic tears in his Achilles' tendon and arch.

Repetitive motion disorders develop because of microscopic tears in the tissue.

Instead, injury to the tendon is usually the result of an accumulation over time of microscopic tears at the cellular level.

And the explosive movements associated with hockey create microscopic tears in the muscles, which will grow as a result.

Most commonly, a strain causes microscopic tears within the muscle, but occasionally, in severe injuries, the muscle can rupture from its attachment.

"Small microscopic tears occur in the muscle," he says.

The soreness more probably stems from microscopic tears in the muscle fibers, resulting in swelling, stiffness and pain.