Rest: Stop the physical activity that caused your strain to avoid further damaging your muscle. Ice: Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes every hour for the first day after your injury. After one day, you can apply ice every three to four hours.
What is the best exercise for a pulled muscle?
Your best bet involves avoiding any movement that agitates the affected area and continue to rest until the pain subsides. Light stretching can assist with a minor strain, but only if incorporated a few days after the injury occurred.
How long does it take to heal a pulled muscle?
Typically, discomfort from a pulled muscle will last between three to six weeks. On the other hand, recovery for more severe muscle strains can take several months. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to prevent a pulled muscle, and we’ve listed a few of them below.
What are 3 symptoms of a muscle strain?
Symptoms
- Pain or tenderness.
- Redness or bruising.
- Limited motion.
- Muscle spasms.
- Swelling.
- Muscle weakness.
Can I exercise with muscle strain? – Related Questions
How painful is a muscle strain?
The key symptoms of a muscle strain are: sudden pain that worsens while contracting the muscle, swelling and bruising, loss of strength and range of motion. People often report the sensation of pain as the feeling of being “stabbed.” When muscle is initially injured, significant inflammation and swelling occurs.
Can muscle strain heal on its own?
“Muscle strains can be uncomfortable and complicate your daily life. But they often heal on their own. It just takes time,” Dr. Even explains.
How do you know if you have strained your muscle?
Check if you have a sprain or strain
you have pain, tenderness or weakness – often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg or back. the injured area is swollen or bruised. you cannot put weight on the injury or use it normally. you have muscle spasms or cramping – where your muscles painfully tighten on their
How do you know if it’s a pulled muscle or something else?
Well, the biggest distinction between a pulled muscle and a different source of pain is the fact that your flexibility is limited after you hurt yourself. Essentially, this means you struggle to bend, stretch, or generally move the muscle. The muscle is tight and sore.
What happens if a muscle strain goes untreated?
Unless the condition is addressed, the injury may develop into permanent muscle damage, which not only decreases its physical functionality and performance but can also release proteins into the bloodstream. This condition then affects the body’s kidneys and can lead to fatal complications.
What is the most common muscle strain?
The most common sports strains affect the leg or groin muscles, such as the: Quadriceps — the muscle in the front of your thigh. Hamstring — the muscle in the back of your thigh.
How do I stop muscle strain?
Increasing body and muscle temperature makes muscles less likely to be strained. Warming up can include a brisk walk or light calisthenics. Stretching reduces tension in muscles, provides a better range of motion, promotes better circulation, improves flexibility, and can lead to increased energy levels.
What is the main cause of muscle strain?
A strain is when a muscle is stretched too much and tears. It is also called a pulled muscle. A strain is a painful injury. It can be caused by an accident, overusing a muscle, or using a muscle in the wrong way.
What is an example of a muscle strain?
Common muscle strains
Thigh strain – a tear of one of the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh. Hamstring strain – also called a pulled hamstring is a tear of one of the three hamstring muscles at the back of the lower leg. Back muscle strain – a tear of any of the muscles in the lower back.
Is heat good for a pulled muscle?
A pulled muscle should first be treated using the R.I.C.E. method. During the first 72 hours, heat should be avoided to prevent increased swelling and inflammation. After about 72 hours, heat can be incorporated into treatment to increase blood flow and aid the overall healing process.
Is it better to rest or exercise a pulled muscle?
Like we mentioned above, the best thing to do for your pulled muscle is to rest it. Physical Therapist Lewis says “You would want to avoid stretching the muscle for a few days to allow the acute injury to begin to heal.
What is the best tablet for muscle pain?
Antispasmodics: Centrally Acting Skeletal Muscle Relaxers
- Carisoprodol (Soma) Carisoprodol is a centrally acting muscle relaxant.
- Chlorzoxazone (Lorzone, Parafon Forte DSC, Remular-S)
- Cyclobenzaprine (Amrix)
- Metaxalone (Skelaxin)
- Methocarbamol (Robaxin)
- Orphenadrine (Norflex)
- Baclofen (Ozobax)
- Tizanidine (Zaniflex)
How can I heal a pulled muscle fast?
approach — rest, ice, compression, elevation:
- Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
- Ice. Even if you’re seeking medical help, ice the area immediately.
- Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops.
- Elevation.