How do I heal a pulled muscle?

How do I heal a pulled muscle?

How to treat a pulled muscle

  1. Rest. Rest the muscle for a few days or until your doctor gives you the okay.
  2. Ice. Apply ice to the injury for 20 minutes each hour you’re awake.
  3. Compression. Wrapping the muscle with an elastic bandage can help bring down swelling.
  4. Elevation.
  5. Medication.
  6. Heat.

How long does it normally take for a pulled muscle to heal?

The amount of time it takes to heal from a muscle strain depends on severity. Grade I strains heal within a few weeks. Grade II strains can take up to 3 months or longer. Grade III strains may require surgery and months of rehabilitation.

What happens to an untreated pulled muscle?

Untreated soft tissue injuries can change the way you move your joints, forcing other tissue and bones to “take up the slack” to compensate for weakness. The altered biomechanics can lead to wear and tear on the cartilage that may turn into tissue degeneration and ultimately osteoarthritis (OA).

Can a muscle tear heal on its own?

Normal activities can be resumed when a full range of motion returns without accompanying pain. Moderate tears may require physical therapy. A severe tear that requires surgical repair can take months or longer to heal. In this case, remember the adage: Do no H.A.R.M.

Is it bad to exercise a pulled muscle?

3 to 21 days after your injury: Start to slowly and regularly exercise your strained muscle. This will help it heal. If you feel pain, decrease how hard you are exercising. 1 to 6 weeks after your injury: Stretch the injured muscle.

Do muscle tears heal on their own?

A moderate muscle strain or tear can usually be treated similarly but for a longer period of a time. Normal activities can be resumed when a full range of motion returns without accompanying pain. Moderate tears may require physical therapy. A severe tear that requires surgical repair can take months or longer to heal.

Should you massage a pulled muscle?

Massage. Therapeutic massage helps loosen tight muscles and increase blood flow to help heal damaged tissues. Applying pressure to the injured muscle tissue also helps remove excess fluid and cellular waste products. A 2012 study found that massage immediately following an injury may even speed strained muscle healing.

How does a pulled muscle feel?

What does a pulled muscle feel like? The symptoms of a muscle strain will depend on how bad your injury is, but you may experience pain, swelling, tenderness or bruising around the affected area. Your muscle may also feel weak or difficult to move.

What does muscle pain feel like?

What is muscle pain? Muscle pain, or myalgia, is a sign of an injury, infection, disease or other health problem. You may feel a deep, steady ache or random sharp pains. Some people have muscle pain all over, while others have it in specific areas.

Should you massage a muscle tear?

Therapeutic massage helps loosen tight muscles and increase blood flow to help heal damaged tissues. Applying pressure to the injured muscle tissue also helps remove excess fluid and cellular waste products. A 2012 study found that massage immediately following an injury may even speed strained muscle healing.

How does a muscle tear feel?

Symptoms of Torn Muscles Expect pain and soreness, as well as spasms and swelling in the affected area. Depending on the severity of the strain, you may find it difficult to move the area, if at all. You may note swelling as well as bruising and discoloration accompanied by a “knotted up” feeling or stiffness.

Can a pulled muscle never heal?

After this inflammatory phase, the muscle begins to heal by regenerating muscle fibers from stem cells that live around the area of injury. However, a significant amount of scar tissue also forms where the muscle was injured. Over time, this scar tissue remodels, but the muscle tissue never fully regenerates.

How do I know if I pulled a muscle?

Physical Symptoms. A muscle that has been pulled may feel slightly sore with a dull, aching kind of pain. Pulled muscles can also feel more acutely painful, especially when the affected muscle is being used. Some pulled muscles are also sore or tender to the touch. The joints near the injured muscle may also be sore.

What is the best thing for pulled muscle?

Taking a hot shower or bath is a common home remedy for a pulled muscle. A gel pack can be used to soothe pain caused by a pulled muscle. The hamstring is a commonly injured muscle. A warm bath may help ease a pulled muscle. Arnica cream helps treat pulled muscles and bruises.

What are the symptoms of a pulled or torn muscle?

The most common symptoms of a torn muscle, strained muscle, and pulled muscle include: Sore or tenderness in your lower back. Pain that occurs suddenly. Muscle spasms. Pain increases when standing, walking, or twisting. Stiffness in the back region.

What is the best treatment for pulled arm muscle?

Treatments for Pulled upper arm muscle (Upper arm muscle strain) include: Rest, ice, compression, elevation, pain medication if needed, once pain has subsided gradually introduce light stretching movement to provide circulation to the affected muscle tissue.