- 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.
What is the best treatment for a torn muscle?
Natural Treatments for Pulled, Torn, or Strained Back Muscle
- R.I.C.E.
- Heat
- Epsom salt bath to relieve strained muscle in the back
- Essential oil soothing muscle rub
- Exercises for pulled back muscles
- Other Exercises for strengthening your back
- Reduce stress
How to heal muscle damage?
Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Treating a Minor Muscle Strain at Home
- Rest the injured muscle to prevent further damage. The most important thing you can do for a muscle strain is to give it time to heal.
- Start moving again after 24-48 hours to speed up recovery. Once you can use the injured muscle without the pain stopping you, try to resume your daily activities.
- Elevate a strained leg muscle on a pillow. ...
What is the best treatment for muscle strain?
Your doctor may recommend the following at-home treatments:
- Rest. Rest the muscle for a few days or until your doctor gives you the okay. ...
- Ice. Apply ice to the injury for 20 minutes each hour you’re awake. ...
- Compression. Wrapping the muscle with an elastic bandage can help bring down swelling. ...
- Elevation. Elevate the injured muscle to reduce swelling.
- Medication. ...
- Heat. ...
What is treatment for injured muscle?
- Protect the strained muscle from further injury.
- Rest the strained muscle. ...
- Ice the muscle area (20 minutes every hour while awake). ...
- Compression can be gently applied with an Ace or other elastic bandage, which can both provide support and decrease swelling. ...
- Elevate the injured area to decrease swelling. ...
What is the most effective treatment given for a muscle injury?
RICE Method. 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.
What is the most common first aid treatment for muscular injuries?
Rest: Rest the injured part until it's less painful. Ice: Wrap an icepack or cold compress in a towel and place over the injured part immediately. Continue for no more than 20 minutes at a time, four to eight times a day. Compression: Support the injured part with an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days.
Which treatment recommends muscle pain?
Rest and elevate the painful area. Alternate between ice packs to reduce inflammation and heat to improve blood flow. Soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts or take a warm shower. Take over-the-counter pain relievers (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen).
What is the best treatment of muscle and bone injuries?
(rest, ice, compression, and elevation) for the first 24 to 48Â hours.Apply compression with a snug, elastic bandage for 48Â hours. ... Apply a cold pack or crushed ice in a plastic bag for 20Â minutes. ... Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for pain relief. ... Keep injured ankle or knee elevated and at rest for 24Â hours.More items...
What are the steps of treatment for a muscle contusion?
TreatmentRest. Protect the injured area from further harm by stopping play. You may also use a protective device (i.e., crutches, sling).Ice. Apply ice wrapped in a clean cloth. ... Compression. Lightly wrap the injured area in a soft bandage or ace wrap.Elevation. Raise it to a level above the heart.
How do you heal a muscle injury?
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.
What is better for muscle pain heat or ice?
Ice wins to shut down swelling, inflammation and pain early on where heat may actually make an injury worse.” If you're dealing with lingering injuries (older than 6 weeks) then it's okay to use heat. The increased blood flow relaxes tight muscles and relieves aching joints.
What medication relaxes muscles?
Antispasmodics: Centrally Acting Skeletal Muscle RelaxersCarisoprodol (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)More items...
Should you massage a muscle tear?
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.
I have a gluteal tear and have been going to PT for two months, twice weekly. I'm not much better. W...
Physical therapy generally takes a long time. Perhaps you are making improvements that you do not notice. Talk with your primary care doctor.
I was pushing real hard and felt something in my calf pop. Could it be an inner muscle puncture?
Muscles generally do not puncture unless being stabbed by a sharp object. The muscle likely just moved. Talk with your primary care doctor.
I have pain radiating from around my left shoulder blade to my left arm, what could it be?
The pain radiating from your shoulder down to your left arm might actually be the result of a pinched nerve in your neck. Pinched nerves occur when...
What is the best treatment for a torn muscle?
Anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin can help reduce swelling and pain. Physical therapy may also be needed. Surgery is the typical treatment for torn or ruptured muscles. You and your doctor will discuss all surgical or nonsurgical options available to repair your muscle.
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:
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 is a muscle strain?
A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. This can be minor and like soreness after an intense workout, or it can be so severe that it needs surgical repair. Muscle strains are a very common injury. Most people who participate in sports have experienced it at some point in their lives.
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 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 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.
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.
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 .
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, ...
How long should you ice a muscle pull?
Ice applications can be done frequently, but should not be done for more than 15 minutes at a time. 3 . How to Ice an Injury the Right Way.
What is pulled muscle?
Jason DelCollo, DO, is board-certified in family medicine and on the faculty of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. A muscle strain, also called a pulled muscle, occurs when a muscle is stretched too far, and microscopic tears occur within the muscle fibers.
How to treat muscle cramps?
You can usually treat muscle cramps with self-care measures. Your doctor can show you stretching exercises that can help you reduce your chances of getting muscle cramps. Making sure you stay well-hydrated also can help. For recurrent cramps that disturb your sleep, your doctor might prescribe a medication to relax your muscles.
How to help a calf cramp?
If you have a cramp, these actions may provide relief: Stretch and massage. Stretch the cramped muscle and gently rub it to help it relax. For a calf cramp, put your weight on your cramped leg and bend your knee slightly . If you're unable to stand, sit on the floor or in a chair with your affected leg extended.
How to get rid of a cramp in the back of the hamstring?
This will also help ease a back thigh (hamstring) cramp. For a front thigh (quadriceps) cramp, use a chair to steady yourself and try pulling your foot on the affected side up toward your buttock. Apply heat or cold. Use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tight muscles.
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.
What to do if you have a muscle tear?
2. Ask about physical therapy. Physical therapy may also be necessary if you have sustained a severe muscle tear. Doing physical therapy can help to ensure that the muscle will heal correctly and that you will regain full use of it.
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.
How to get a swollen limb up?
You can also elevate the injured limb above your heart to help reduce the swelling. Place the limb up on some pillows and lay down. Make sure that you are in a comfortable position. If you can't get the injury above your heart, try to at least keep it parallel to the ground.
How to treat a second degree muscle injury?
For either a first or second degree injury, medical care is not typically needed. You can treat these injuries with RICE, a mnemonic for the treatment. "R" stands for "rest" the injured area. Take a break from exercising until you can move the muscle without pain.
What to do if you have a severe injury?
3. Request a prescription pain-reliever for severe pain. If your injury is severe, then you may experience severe pain as well. In this case, your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever, such as codeine.
What to eat to heal a torn muscle?
Eat foods that contain a lot of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, antioxidants, and protein to speed up the healing process. Some foods that would help include: citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, blueberries, chicken, walnuts, and many more.
Drugs used to treat Muscle Pain
The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.
Alternative treatments for Muscle Pain
The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Muscle Pain. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Muscle Pain.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
What essential oils can I use for muscle pain?
Tension: Try marjoram, peppermint, helichrysum, lavender or Roman Chamomile. To use an essential oil for muscle pain, add one to two drops of the essential oil into one tablespoon of a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil or olive oil, and apply to the affected area.
What is the best way to relax a muscle?
A warm shower or bath is a natural muscle relaxer, which can be great for tension knotted shoulders or muscles tight from overuse. While an ice pack used to be recommended for muscle sprains, research now indicates that cold slows down the body's healing process.
How long should I rest my muscles?
If you rest up for a couple of days , general muscle soreness due to overexertion should pass on its own. Of course, when things get busy in the garden or on the farm, rest isn't easy to come by, so do what works for you. Don't sit around too long, or you may make the muscle soreness worse.
Why do I have sore muscles?
Sore muscles may be linked to a variety of causes, including: Dehydration. Exercise, injury or overuse. Blood flow problems from illness or lack of activity. Lack of minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium. Certain medications, like statins, chemotherapy drugs and anesthetics.
How to use Epsom salt for muscle pain?
Epsom Salt for Muscle Pain Relief. Tried and true, a cup or two of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) dissolved in a warm tub of water works wonders for aching muscles. Use warm water, not hot water. For sore muscles, soak for 15 minutes or until the water has cooled, up to three times per week.
What is a muscle cramp?
A muscle cramp, is “a strong, painful contraction or tightening of a muscle that comes on suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes”. A muscle sprain is “an injury to a ligament (tissue that connects two or more bones at a joint). In a sprain, one or more ligaments is stretched or torn”.
Does magnesium help with muscle pain?
(Excess sugar consumption ties up magnesium, too.) Topical magnesium targets muscle pain by getting the magnesium directly to the sore muscles.
What is the best treatment for a muscle spasm?
If you have a persisting muscle spasm, especially if it’s severe, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant or a pain medication. Muscle relaxants used for muscle spasms are called centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs), and are often only prescribed for 2- to 3-week periods.
What to do if you have muscle spasms?
ask you about your symptoms. ask about your diet and any medications or supplements you’re taking.
How to prevent muscle spasms in legs?
doing light stretching before and after you exercise. eating a healthy diet. Using kinesio tape or compression stockings may help prevent muscle spasms in your legs, according to a small study on runners. You may want to keep a record of when you get a muscle spasm, to see if it’s related to a particular activity.
How long does a muscle spasm last?
But any muscles, including your back, hands, feet, or toes can spasm. Muscle spasms can last anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes. If you experience chronic muscle cramping, you may want to see a doctor. Specific home treatments are recommended ...
How to stretch a spasm in the back?
The first and easiest way to stretch a back spasm is to walk around, which can loosen your back muscles and relieve a spasm. Walk at a slow, steady pace to loosen your back muscles.
How to stretch back muscles?
foam roller for back stretch. exercise ball for back stretch. 2. Massage. Massage can be a great way to relieve physical pain and muscle cramps. Gently rub the muscle that’s in spasm. For a persisting back spasm, try pinching the area around it hard and holding the pinch for a few minutes.
How to stretch your leg to stop spasms?
To do the first stretch: Lie down, stretching your leg by pointing or pulling your toes toward your head. (Pointing the toes toward you is called dorsiflexion .) Hold for a few seconds or until the spasm stops. You can also use a strap or belt looped around your foot to gently pull the top of your foot toward you.
What is the best cream for aching muscles?
This muscle rub from doTERRA feels seriously cold on contact. It comprises a blend of peppermint, wintergreen, and blue chamomile to cool and soothe aching muscles and joints. And, as the name implies, this cream will target the deep spots that others have a hard time reaching.
What is the best muscle rub for sore muscles?
From creams to gels to balms, apply one of these top-rated muscle rubs to ease your sore muscles and aching joints. This paraben-free, medical expert-recommended muscle rub has both fast- and long-acting effects, so you'll get lasting relief from muscle and joint pains.
Can you take NSAIDs with muscle rubs?
According to research, some muscle rubs that do contain topical pain relievers like NSAIDs may be helpful if you're injured (and especially if you can't take oral pain relievers due to gastrointestinal issues). Other balms or gels, especially those containing menthol, provide more of a cooling sensation.
Does muscle rub help with stiffness?
Whether you pushed yourself to the limit during your new at-home workout routine or are just feeling stiff and sore from a weekend full of yard work, your body deserves a little TLC. Applying a muscle-rub cream, gel, or balm is not going to magically cure the stiffness you're feeling, but it may provide some relief.
Does menthol help with muscle pain?
This paraben-free, medical expert-recommended muscle rub has both fast- and long-acting effects, so you'll get lasting relief from muscle and joint pains. The menthol has a rather pleasant odor that dissipates quickly, leaving your aching body feeling cool and calm.
What is the best treatment for pain?
Physical Therapy. Physical therapy helps to relieve pain by using special techniques that improve movement and function impaired by an injury or disability. Along with employing stretching, strengthening, and pain-relieving techniques, a physical therapist may use, among other things, TENS to aid treatment. Exercise.
What is the best medication for pain?
Drug Therapy: Nonprescription and Prescription. Milder forms of pain may be relieved by over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol ( acetaminophen) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
How does psychological treatment help with pain?
Psychological treatment provides safe, nondrug methods that can treat your pain directly by reducing high levels of physiological stress that often aggravate pain . Psychological treatment also helps improve the indirect consequences of pain by helping you learn how to cope with the many problems associated with pain.
What are some exercises that help with chronic pain?
Some exercises are easier for certain chronic pain sufferers to perform than others; try swimming, biking, walking, rowing, and yoga. Psychological Treatment. When you are in pain, you may have feelings of anger, sadness, hopelessness, and/or despair.
How does massage help with pain?
Massage can reduce stress and relieve tension by enhancing blood flow. This treatment also can reduce the presence of substances that may generate and sustain pain.
Can you have a surgical implant for pain?
When standard medicines and physical therapy fail to offer adequate pain relief, you may be a candidate for a surgical implant to help you control pain. When they are used, which is rare, there are two main types of implants to control pain: Intrathecal Drug Delivery.
Can acupuncture help with chronic pain?
From over-the-counter and prescription drugs to mind/body techniques to acupuncture, there are a lot of approaches. But when it comes to treating chronic pain, no single technique is guaranteed to produce complete pain relief. Relief may be found by using a combination of treatment options.