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Sign Me Up. Print This Page Click to Print. Free Healthbeat Signup Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! The longer your symptoms last, the worse your injury is likely to be. See our section: Grading of muscle strain, below for more information. If you hear a popping or snapping sound when you hurt yourself, this may be caused by a torn ligament or broken bone. You should also seek medical help immediately if you have symptoms of a grade three strain.
Physiotherapists grade muscle strains depending on how bad they are. Strains within each grade may also vary in how mild or severe they are. This is a partial tear of your muscle part of the way through it. Grade two strains can also vary from milder strains to more severe ones.
You can access a range of treatments on a pay as you go basis, including physiotherapy. There are lots of different ways to access physiotherapy — you may be able to refer yourself directly. A physiotherapist or GP will usually be able to diagnose a muscle strain pulled muscle just by examining you and asking questions. Your physiotherapist or GP may arrange for you to have an ultrasound or a magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan.
An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of the inside of your body and an MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves. This will give your muscle a chance to heal and to protect it from any more damage. In the first 72 hours, you also need to avoid anything that could make your injury worse.
It can help to remember these by using the HARM principle. For more information, click to open our HARM infographic. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and, if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
You can usually treat mild muscle strains at home. But sometimes you may need to see a physiotherapist or have an operation to repair your damaged muscle. It also depends on how active you need to be afterwards. It may take you a few weeks to be able to walk around as normal and it may take even longer for you to go back to sports. With a very bad strain, it may take months for you to recover completely.
To prevent another injury, warm up properly before you exercise. If your injury is very bad or it keeps coming back, physiotherapy may help to strengthen your damaged muscle. Your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist or you can book an appointment with a physiotherapist yourself. You can also choose to see a physiotherapist privately.
The physiotherapist will create a programme of exercises to gradually strengthen and stretch your muscles. These exercises will depend on the type of injury you have and how bad it is.
If your muscle strain is very bad, or you have a completely torn muscle, you may need an operation to repair it. Your GP will arrange for you to see an orthopaedic surgeon who will explain which type of procedure you need. But you may be more likely to have a muscle strain pulled muscle if you:. This is particularly important as tired muscles are less able to support your joints well. You can read about ways to protect yourself from strains in Prevention of muscle strains below.
You can do exercises to strengthen specific muscles in your body. A physiotherapist can give you advice. It is important to talk to a doctor before trying recovery exercises, as overexerting an already injured muscle can cause extra damage.
The specific stretches will depend on the injured area, but a person should always repeat the stretch two or three times. Examples of these stretches include:. To stretch the hamstrings, stand with the feet hip-width apart, and bend at the waist to lean forward.
There should be a mild stretch along the back of the legs. For a strained muscle in the hip, lie flat on the back and pull the right knee to the chest. Hold it there for 10 to 15 seconds before straightening the leg out again. Repeat with the left leg, feeling a stretch in the upper thigh and hips.
For a strained neck muscle, lean the head forward to try to touch the chin to the chest. Next, lean the head first to the left and then to the right, trying to touch the ear to the shoulder. People may be able to prevent muscle strains by warming up the muscles before doing physical activity and by avoiding overstretching the muscles. Some people may benefit from working with a physical therapist or a strength and conditioning professional to help improve their exercise technique and allow them to build strength and flexibility safely.
Most soft tissue injuries take a few weeks to heal, but severe strains may take much longer. A doctor will be able to provide information on the likely timeframe of recovery after surgery. It is important to see a doctor for any painful muscle strain to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. If a person hears a popping sound when the injury occurs, this can indicate a muscle tear. Bonnie P. Gregory, MD , orthopedic surgeon with UT Physicians, shares her expertise on common workout injuries and when you should see a physician.
With a pulled muscle, however, the pain is usually immediate. Some injuries are more frequent and problematic than others. While they can be attributed to inactivity and improper stretching, other injuries are due to overuse and strain. Below are some common areas of your body where injuries can occur during a workout or intense physical activity:. Simple remedies for soreness include using an ice pack, massages, stretching, and most importantly, rest.
Muscle soreness should not last longer than five days. These symptoms could indicate a bigger issue, such as damage to your joints or muscles. While you may see your primary care doctor for these types of injuries, a physician who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery may be your best option.
An expert can help you by starting with an initial pain assessment, identifying factors that may have contributed to your injury, provide recommendations for recovery, and tips for future injury prevention. To schedule an appointment, please call Find a Doctor Find a Doctor. Select an area. Search All Locations.
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