Heal Pulled Muscles

Mar 26
09:07

2012

Paul W Young

Paul W Young

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People tend to pull their muscles doing rigorous exercises at the gym or when playing some kind of intense sport. These unfortunate incidents can put both regular people and professional athletes on the bench for long periods of time. How can we heal pulled muscles?

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The healing process can be difficult,Heal Pulled Muscles Articles but with proper care and body maintenance, you can be back on your feet in no time. This article will outline some important factors and tips to heal pulled muscles efficiently. 

1. Apply ice to heal pulled muscles.

Immediately after pulling a muscle it is important to put ice on the area that was injured. Take a zip lock bag, put lots of ice inside and wrap the bag in a towel. Place the wrapped towel with the ice in it on your muscle. This will keep the swelling down. It is important to put a towel around the ice to prevent “ice burn” on your skin. Placing raw ice on skin for long periods of time can cause more harm than good so remember to take the proper precautions.

2. Try some heat to heal pulled muscles faster.

Many people are confused whether to place ice or heat on a pulled muscle and the answer is: Try both! Ice is good to start because it will minimize swelling, but applying heat compresses to the pulled muscle after icing it can help loosen up the ligaments and relieve tension. You can try filling one of those classic orange water bottles up to the rim with hot water from the tap. Avoid making the water too hot because you don’t want to burn yourself. Just in case, it would be wise to wrap a towel around it so you keep your skin safe.

Another heating alternative you could try is using an electric blanket. Having a hot bath or shower can also do the trick of loosening up your pulled muscles.

3. Massage and medicate.

Other remedies for pulled muscles are massage techniques and medication. Massage therapists, chiropractors and physiotherapists can all help heal pulled muscles by suggesting exercises to do and massage therapy techniques. Just like hot water, massaging muscles can relieve tension in your ligaments and help relax your muscles naturally.

If you are suffering from significant pain, go visit your doctor and get some prescribed medication to help ease the trauma. If the injury is not too serious, over-the-counter drugs, like Tylenol and heat rubs can be just as effective in healing pulled muscles as prescribed medication.

Many people are determined to return to action as soon as they can after pulling a muscle, but it is important not to get ahead of yourself. Going back to the gym or your sporting activities too soon can cause significant damage to your body. Take your time. To avoid re-injuring yourself, remember to get plenty of rest and wait until your muscles have fully healed before going back to any intense exercise.

Remember, healing pulled muscles takes time and effort, but by following these tips you will as good as new in no time!