Heat Therapy for Pulled Muscles

A strained muscle could keep you on the sidelines for a few days, but heat therapy can help relieve the pain. Heat and cold therapy is a common home remedy to help relieve pain.

Benefits of Heat

• Applying heat to a pulled muscle will help relieve pain, relax muscles, open blood vessels and help with circulation.

  Heat causes the relaxation of blood vessels by opening them up, increasing blood flow to the injured area.

  Heat will also help when stretching to rehabilitate the muscle. Heat lengthens the collagen tissues and helps with gentle stretching and motion exercises.

How to Use Heat

• Using heat for therapy should only be done after the inflammation from the injury has subsided. Applying heat to a swelling muscle can induce pain and swelling, rather than deter it. Ice treatment should be used for a minimum of 24 hours after the injury.

  The heat source should be a heating pad found at your drugstore. The pad should be wrapped in a towel before applying to the injured area. Apply heat for 15 to 20 minutes maximum in one session.

  Always use heat and stretch out before starting any workouts with a rehabilitating muscle.

Warnings

• Heat should be avoided with children and pregnant women.

  Burns should be avoided by not overexposing the area to heat. In addition, do not apply the heat directly to injured skin. The pad should be wrapped in a towel before application.

  Never use heat therapy while sleeping.