How long does a muscle strain take to heal?
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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 you treat a strained muscle?
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.
How do I know if I’ve pulled a 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.
Should I massage a muscle strain?
Massage can help a range of injuries including sprains, strains, broken bones and muscles tears. Using a variety of massage techniques, massage can stretch out tightness and loosen scar tissue. Using massage as part of injury rehabilitation can increase healing rate and shorten recovery time.
Should you ice tight muscles?
Applying cold is helpful when you want to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain. It can also reduce painful muscle spasms. Be sure to immediately ice a new injury to keep swelling in check and reduce the pain of pressure on the injury.
Does a warm bath help a pulled muscle?
“After the acute phase of the injury, you can use heat to help with recovery and relax muscles,” Kurtz says. “A heat pack or submersion in a hot tub may help with muscle strains and promoting range of motion.”
Is heat good for muscle strain?
Heat is often best for tight muscles, sore muscles, as well as the stiffness and pain associated with arthritis. Heat can also be used following an acute injury to increase blood flow once the swelling has subsided. Remember, though, that applying heat too soon following an acute injury can increase swelling.