How do you heal a muscle strain?

If you’re anything like me, you tend to pull one or twenty muscles while working out. Well, fret not! This article (please read with wacky enthusiasm) is here to guide you on how to heal muscle strains and get back in the game.

Understanding What a Muscle Strain Is

You can’t fix what you don’t understand, so let’s get educated on strains. A muscle strain happens when fibers in your muscle tear due to overuse or sudden stretching. Commonly known as a “pulled muscle,” it can cause pain and discomfort that vary in severity from mild twinges to feeling like your limb is about to fall off.

How Do Muscles Get Strained?

Muscles are an essential component for movement, making them susceptible to injuries from even everyday activities such as picking up groceries or rolling down hills. Here are some common ways muscles may become strained:

  • Overexertion – attempting too much weight during exercises.
  • Sports Injuries – twisting wrong while running around amok
  • Accidents – falling off the stairs because of intense focus scrolling through Instagram

Note: The last bullet point actually happened, but I digress…

Initial Treatment at Home

The first step after getting injured should be R.I.C.E. (Rest/Ice/Compression/Elevation)

Rest

Taking time away from physical activity will ensure your body gets enough relaxation; this isn’t movie night right? It’s important!

Ice

Appyling ice will help reduce swelling and alleviate pain effectively by reducing inflammation within blood vessels near the injury site.

Fun fact: Contrariwise Hot showers dilate vasculature which increases local inflammation instead of fixing those TWISTED MUSCLES trust us COLD IS D GOLD!!

Pro Tip: Using frozen vegetables straight out of the freezer works great if no ice-pack available provided your sibling didn’t eat them already.

Compression

Wrapping your injury will help limit the swelling by restricting flow of the liquids in deconstructed muscles. Use an ace bandage or a bit of plastic wrap, anything to compress that muscle strain.

Elevation

Raising the injured limb at heart level (or slightly above) allows gravity to assist in fluid reduction over time. Be sure not to raise it so high as you would like OMG FOSSEY STATUS ohh! look at me all fancy . Remember, we are healing here!

Pain Relief Medications

If home remedies don’t quite do enough for pain relief consider Tylenol or Ibuprofen prescribed by physician. Although they won’t make everything hunky dory better (YES YES CHECK WITH A PROFESSIONAL) They may ease throbbing and achiness.

Pro Tip: Have someone else keep track of medication times when possible because lack of memory is apparent in this context.

Physical Therapy

After letting your body rest for some days/weeks from YouTubing yoga videos and online HIIT sessions, physical therapy is probably what you need to speed up healing process.Your therapist will create an individualizable exercise plan catered our personal needs THIS IS YOUR TIME!.

The American Association Of Orthopedic Surgeons suggests avoiding any stretching unless proper guidance provided they ain’t playin’ folks.And no, Instagram fitness influencers are not certified physicians with deep knowledge on a range of medical topics such as physiology and biomechanics.Just google search how many people indeed die because workout misconceptions.(Hint: lot’s!).

Supplements or Natural Remedies?

While taking natural supplements seems interesting there is certainly mixed understanding around efficacy. Let’s talk a little about some common ones out there:

Glucosamine Sulfate

Glucosamine sulfate is derived from shellfish extract which shows cartilage repair results (Say What?). Given oral or topical forms it may come in handy for rebuilding connective tissue.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy, though not quite supplements or herbs, is a natural way to alleviate muscle strain by releasing tension within the soft tissue of one’s skin. Plus,oh-la-la! It gets that mind body touchy feely stuff rollin’

Pro tip: Ensure you go to someone certified because if this goes wrong we don’t want no bad yelp reviews now do we!

Surgical Intervention

If other treatments have been exhausted then only can surgery be considered as option.If surgeon recommends so after initial evaluation ensuring extensive reconstruction through grafts and repairing tendons.

Pulled muscles happen! But hopefully with practice using these tips they could help those frustrating twinges turn into less time off training and more successful recoveries.Like everything else health wise balance incorporating rest/scheduling trainings sessions when your body is ready but most importantly consulting professional (We are just bloggers who love goofing around) will lead you right path…onwards we heal folks!

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