Ever Experienced A Pulled Muscle?
You may be used to hurrying to meet up with your daily schedule. You need to get to work or business on time, shop for groceries on your way home, and do household chores. You may hustle to complete your tasks but there are chances that you may overstretch your muscle in the process. Forced motions can cause tears in the muscle fibers resulting in a muscle strain.
Once overstretched, the muscle pulls away at the joints. The affected tissue may even rupture depending on the severity of the stretching. This condition can lead to stiffness and pain. Besides, you may not be able to stretch the injured muscle. Muscle tear can affect any part of your body.
Many people suffer muscle strain during activities when their muscles undergo quick motions. The sedentary lifestyle of working long hours on the computer can make the muscles of the back, shoulder, and neck susceptible to tears. Strenuous exercises can also overstretch any of your muscles. Such injury causes sudden muscle pain and the affected body part becomes tender.
A severe muscle tear can lead to extreme pain and incapacitation of the injured tissue. It is important that you avoid further stretching of the affected body part to avoid more damage to the injured muscle. You may manage mild cases of muscle strain before consulting a physiotherapist. However, a professional is needed as soon as possible if the damage to the muscle is severe.
Reducing the inflammation on the affected part of the body will help relieve pain and stiffness. Raise the body part to reduce swelling. Gently massage the area to soften the stiff injured tissue. It can also reduce the contraction of the affected muscle. Over the counter anti-inflammatory medication or pain reliever can reduce the inflammation and soreness.
Application of ice to strained muscle is also helpful. You can apply ice packs 20 minutes per hour on the swollen area. This procedure is used for the treatment of muscle strain during sports activities. The ice reduces pain and swelling. You can also apply hot moist pack on the injured muscle to heat it and improve blood flow to the tissue.
However, it is important to visit a physiotherapist. The professional will examine the injury and determine the extent of the muscle damage. The physiotherapist will then decide on a treatment option. The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) is useful in the treatment of muscle strain. This device transmits low currents to the injured tissue through electrodes. This procedure minimizes pain. Also, an ultrasound device can heat the damaged muscle by sending sound waves to it. Electrotherapeutic approaches are useful for severe cases of muscle strain.
Immobilization of the muscles for an extended period can weaken them. You need to take off some time and strengthen your muscles while working. Besides, exercises can help ease muscle weakness. It can also increase the flexibility and mobility of the tissues. Engage in activities that will improve the functioning of your muscles and avoid those that will increase your risk of muscle tear.