Medication
Muscle strains are caused by the stretching and tearing of muscle fibers due to sudden movements or overuse. When muscle fibers are torn, it causes inflammation and swelling of the surrounding tissues. Application of cold not only helps to numb the pain slightly; it also reduces the inflammation and swelling which further helps with pain relief.
Therapy
3 Quick & Easy Steps to Recover from a Strained, Pulled, or Torn Back Stretching Your Lumbar Muscles to help with Strains or Tears. Strengthen Your Back Muscles to Prevent Future Injuries. Rest, and Ice or Heat Therapy.
Self-care
Types of Skeletal Muscle Relaxers for Back Spasms
- Soma, Rela, or Vanadom (Carisoprodol) Carisoprodol is available generically and as a brand; brand names are Soma and Vanadom. ...
- Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) Cyclobenzaprine is available as Flexeril, Amrix, and in generic form. ...
- Skelaxin (Metaxalone) Skelaxin is the brand name for metaxalone. ...
Nutrition
The 7 Best Workout Recovery Supplements
- Botanic Choice Creatine. Creatine is the most proven, most inexpensive, and most beneficial increaser of performance we know of.
- Whey Protein. ...
- Twinlab L-Glutamine. ...
- Citrulline. ...
- L-Carnosine. ...
See more
Should you use heat or cold on a muscle strain?
How to treat and recover from a strained or pulled muscle?
What is the best muscle relaxer for muscle spasms?
What are the best muscle recovery supplements?
What is the fastest way to heal a strained muscle?
TreatmentRest. 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.
How long does a strained muscle take to heal?
For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months. In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary. With proper treatment, most people recover completely.
How do I know if I strained a muscle?
Muscle Strain SymptomsSwelling, bruising, or redness due to the injury.Pain at rest.Pain when the specific muscle or the joint in relation to that muscle is used.Weakness of the muscle or tendons.Inability to use the muscle at all.
Is heat or cold better for strained muscles?
Generally speaking, ice therapy is more appropriate for new injuries, like sprains and strains, whereas heat therapy is typically better for treating chronic conditions.
How to prevent muscle strains from recurring?
There are several ways you can prevent a muscle strain from recurring, including: allowing for proper time to heal from an injury. stretching your muscles daily. cross-training for sports by weightlifting or choosing another activity to strengthen your muscles. warming up before exercise or intense activity.
What to do if you have a muscle tear?
Talk to your doctor about what steps you can take to avoid muscle strains if you experience them regularly. If you have a muscle tear that requires surgery, medication or physical therapy may be necessary after your procedure. Your doctor will provide specific follow-up instructions based on the type and severity of your injury.
Why does my muscle feel like it's stretched?
Poor conditioning, fatigue, and an improper warmup can lead to a muscle strain. When muscle strain occurs, people often report a popping or snapping sensation. This is the feeling of the muscle tissue being stretched until it snaps. This is often a very painful experience.
How to reduce swelling in a muscle?
Compress your muscle by applying a steady, gentle pressure on it. This prevents swelling and inflammation, which delay healing. Wrapping an elastic bandage around the affected muscle is best. Elevate the injury above your heart to reduce swelling. Use pillows or other devices to raise an affected limb while you rest.
How to heal a strained muscle?
This can help strained muscles and other injuries. Ice your muscle by using cold packs with a barrier between them and your skin four to eight times per day for 20 minutes at a time.
What is the most common treatment for muscle strains?
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most common and effective treatment for muscle strains is the RICE method . The individual letters of RICE stand for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. In particular, RICE involves the following:
What is the best way to treat muscle strain?
Properly treating muscle strain requires the right supplies and a comfortable place to rest. You may need the following supplies: Depending on the muscle affected, you may need assistive devices to help stabilize the muscle, especially if it affects one of the limbs. These can include:
What are the symptoms of muscle strain?
The usual symptoms of this type of injury include pain, spasm of the muscle, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. Often an athlete will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation in the muscle, and then be unable to continue their activities. Muscle strain injuries are graded by severity: 1 .
How does temperature affect muscle stiffness?
Laboratory studies have shown that temperature can influence the stiffness of a muscle. 4 By keeping the body and muscles warm, the muscle is less likely to sustain a strain type of injury.
Why is it important to use caution when a muscle is fatigued?
6 . Athletes should use caution, especially as they become fatigued, as the muscle becomes more susceptible to strain injuries.
What is a grade 1 injury?
Grade I: Mild discomfort, often no disability, usually does not limit activity . Grade II: Moderate discomfort, can limit the ability to perform high-level activities. May have moderate swelling and bruising associated. Grade III: Severe injury that can cause significant pain. Often patients complain of muscle spasm, swelling, ...
What is the best way to prevent muscle strain?
Gentle Stretching. Stretching and strengthening are useful in the treatment and prevention of muscle strain injuries. Muscles that are stronger and more flexible are less likely to be injured.
Why should athletes use caution?
Athletes should use caution, especially as they become fatigued, as the muscle becomes more susceptible to strain injuries.
How to heal muscle strain?
Most muscle strain injuries will heal with simple treatment steps, but performing the right steps, at the right time, can be critical to ensuring the fastest possible recovery. As with many injuries, there is a balance between doing too much, or too little, early after the injury.
How to heal a strained muscle?
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. 6 A 2012 study found that massage immediately following an injury may even speed strained muscle healing. 7 If the area is too sensitive for massage, wait about a week and ask your doctor. Then begin massaging the injury and surrounding muscles to help with pain and improve range of motion.
What are the best ways to treat muscle pain?
Compression. Massage. Heat therapy. Physical therapy. Pain medication. 1. Cold therapy. When you strain a muscle, the fibers in the tissue are damaged. This may cause immediate pain, inflammation in the muscle tissue, and swelling in the affected area.
How to recover from a muscle strain?
Physical therapy. During recovery from a muscle strain, it’s a good idea to try and stay active to prevent surrounding muscles from weakening. Physical therapy can help promote muscle strength and healing, reducing the risk of reinjury. 9 A physical therapist can show you stretching exercises that may help you maintain flexibility and range ...
What is muscle strain?
A muscle strain is when muscles or tendons tear or stretch. Many injuries—falls, sudden blows, overuse, and more—may strain muscles. 1 No matter what causes a strain, it’s painful and inconvenient. Whether you strained your neck while parallel parking or pulled a groin muscle playing hockey, knowing how to treat the pain ...
How to treat a strained neck while parallel parking?
Here are six options to help you treat your muscle strain: Cold therapy. Compression.
How to treat a cold rash?
2,3 Continue applying cold several times a day for 20-30 minutes at a time. Some of the methods you can use are: Ice or gel packs. Cold-water baths. Cold therapy systems.
Does heat help with muscle pain?
Heat also increases blood flow, which may promote healing. 8 You can alternate hot and cold therapy to help reduce the pain and swelling caused by a muscle strain.
Overview
A muscle strain is an injury to one of your muscles that causes it to tear. They’re one of the most common injuries, especially among athletes.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider will diagnose a muscle strain with a physical exam. Make sure to tell them what you were doing when you first noticed your symptoms. Because muscle strains come from physical activities, it’s important they know what led to yours.
Management and Treatment
You can treat most muscle strains with at-home methods of first aid, including:
Prevention
The best way to prevent muscle strains is to stretch and warm up before exercising. Increasing your overall flexibility will also protect your muscles from future injuries. The more flexible you are, the more room your muscle fibers have to stretch before they begin to tear.
Living With
Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you’re experiencing severe symptoms like intense pain. If you’re still feeling pain after a few weeks of at-home treatments, talk to your provider.
What causes muscle strains?
Muscle strains can be caused by: 1 Lifting an object that is too heavy 2 Lifting improperly 3 Not warming up before or stretching after a workout 4 Overusing a muscle 5 Poor posture
What are the symptoms of a pulled muscle?
Symptoms of a pulled muscle include: Bruising, swelling or redness at the injury site. Difficulty using the affected muscle. Muscle weakness. Sudden pain when using the affected muscle. Pain when the muscle is at rest.
What is a pulled muscle?
A pulled muscle, or muscle strain , occurs when a muscle or tendon is overstretched or torn. Muscle strains can occur without warning and affect people of all ages and fitness levels. Because these types of injuries can range in severity, you should see your doctor right away if you:
What is the best medicine for a swollen ear?
Medication. Your physician may recommend a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, like ibuprofen, to reduce pain and swelling.
How to prevent pulling muscles?
How to prevent a pulled muscle. “Pulled muscles can be prevented by utilizing proper technique when lifting and carrying,” says Dr. Powell. “For instance, individuals may pull a muscle at the gym due to improper form while exercising or by lifting something heavy and forgetting to bend at the knees.
How long does it take to heal a pulled muscle?
However, you should consult with your doctor if you still have pain after 24 hours of at-home treatment.
How to treat a swollen shin?
Ice. Apply ice to the injury for 20 minutes each hour you’re awake. Ice can help reduce inflammation. Never apply ice directly to bare skin; instead, wrap the ice pack in a towel first.
Can You Diagnose Strained Back Muscle?
Medical professionals diagnose mild strains by studying the medical history of the patients. A qualified healthcare provider reviews the symptoms of the patients and the reason for injury— or performs a physical examination.
Why do you need an X-ray for back pain?
If patients have severe sprains and strains and there is loss of mobility and weakness, a healthcare provider takes an X-ray to rule out a herniated (bulging) disc or fractured (broken) as the back pain cause.
What happens when you strain your back?
When you strain your back, the tendons and muscles supporting the spine are torn, pulled, or twisted.
What is the function of the back?
It functions with the support of ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and a network of blood vessels. However, your back, particularly the lower back or lumbar, bears much of your body’s weight while you run, walk, lift, or do other activities.
How to reduce lower back pain?
Using a back brace is another great way to reduce lower back pain. In fact, it is an effective and fast way to reduce strained back pain. The adjustable brace is a great recovery treatment for budging, misalignments, fractures, slipped discs, and strains.
How to relieve a pulled back muscle?
Stretches for a pulled-back muscle can do wonders to relieve strain instantly. You can include them in your massage therapy to improve blood circulation and relax muscles. Moreover, it can improve range of motion and decrease pain.
How to reduce swelling in back?
Applying cold packs is incredibly effective in reducing blood flow to painful areas. This technique numbs back pain and decreases swelling and inflammation.
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How to treat muscle pain from a muscle injury?
Non-steroidal anti-infammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, are helpful for relieving pain and inflammation from a muscle injury. Try taking a dose of an NSAID, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Take only the recommended doses of Ibuprofen or aspirin for 3 to 7 days after the injury.
How to heal a torn muscle in the back?
During this time, you should apply an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel to the torn muscle for 15-20 minutes every 2 hours. You should also wrap the injured area in an ace bandage to reduce swelling.
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What to do if you tore a muscle?
Seek medical attention for a third degree tear. If you have torn your muscle completely, then you will not be able to move the affected limb. You will need to seek treatment from a qualified healthcare professional as soon as possible.
What to do if you can't get the injury above your heart?
If you can't get the injury above your heart, try to at least keep it parallel to the ground.
Why is compression important?
Compression will also serve to protect the area from re-injury.
