How to tell if i have a pulled or ruptured tendon?

Pain loss motion: Tendons attach a muscle to a bone and allow the muscle contraction to move the bone thru its joint. If a tendon is ruptured the motion is compromised . Sometimes there is no motion voluntarily at all other times the strength of the affected bone motion is lessened but still present because there maybe other muscle/tendon units that help with the activity. Partially torn/pulled tendons hurt to use.

Eventual MRI is best: Tendons attach muscles to bones, they allow the muscle to pull on the bone & cause motion. Sprains & strains are graded based on the # of fibers w/in the structure that are stretched/ torn. This is by no means an exact #, but a grade 1 = fiber stretch, grade two = partial/ moderate disruption, & grade three = complete disruption. An x-ray can determine a rupture if it pulls a piece of bone with it.