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Recovery Time for Pulled Muscle

Pulled muscles strikes fear in the heart of professional athletes and are an uninvited nuisance for fitness junkies. There are techniques to streamline your workout and minimize the risk of injury, but accidents happen and being proactive about recovery can speed it along.

  1. Types of Injury

    • Pulls, strains, sprains and tears are all basically the same injury, but with differing levels of severity. Each one is the result of a muscle or tendon overextending beyond its ability, resulting in a temporary loss of function, swelling, and/or pain. A pull or strain indicates that the muscle or tendon has been overextended beyond its normal range. A sprain denotes a partial tear and severe over-stretching, and a full tear indicates that part of the muscle or tendon has torn.

    Identification

    • Severity of pain can be a guide to which type of injury you have, but if this is your first injury, a pulled hamstring might well feel like a tear. A more reliable guide is range of motion and duration of pain. If you are unable to do everyday tasks like walking without severe pain, you most likely have a sprain or tear. A pulled muscle or strain can limit your strength and range of motion. If you suspect a sprain or tear, go to the hospital immediately and have a health care professional diagnose it for you.

    Recovery Times

    • A strained or pulled tendon weakens your joints and makes normal tasks difficult and painful; they often require one to three weeks of recovery time depending on the severity. Sprains will require between three and six weeks to heal depending on severity. Tearing a muscle is a very serious injury and can often require surgery to repair the ripped muscle; recovery can take many weeks or months, including rehabilitation and therapy.

    Remedies

    • Taking care of a sprain or tear requires medical attention and should be dealt with as a serious injury; a pull or a strain can be treated at home if it is not too severe. Light activity for a pull or strain can help the muscle regain its original range of motion, but make sure not to overdo it. Use an ice pack and a heat pack to alternately minimize swelling and reduce pain. A sports massage can also be effective for reducing discomfort and ensure proper muscle recovery. Taking proper care of your injury can significantly improve recovery time for pulled muscles.

    Preventing Pulled Muscles

    • One of the first things you can do to prevent an overextension injury is to spend time developing muscle flexibility. The more elastic your tendons and muscles are, the less of a chance there is that your will overextend them. Proper warm-ups for muscles also ensure that they will be primed for exercise and less likely to suffer from sudden injury.

      In addition, make sure that you have the right gear for the activity you are participating in. Go to a sporting goods store and get a proper fitting for shoes, and get a pair that closely matches your footprint. A good pair of shoes will keep your ankles stable during your workouts and can help prevent a rolled ankle or a pulled hamstring, among other injuries caused by losing your balance.

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