For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months. In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary.
How do you heal an overused muscle?
While the process isn't quite as simple, it's most effective to sum it up as “underuse.” The key component in the treatment of an overuse injury is rest. Rest, and ice in case of inflammation. If you have an overuse injury, you will likely be recommended over the counter painkillers.
What does an overused muscle feel like?
Symptoms of overuse injuries include: tingling, numbness, or pain in the affected area . stiffness or soreness in the neck or back. feelings of weakness or fatigue in the hands, arms, or legs.
How long does it take for overuse injuries to heal?
In general, treatment for overuse injuries involves relative rest to allow the affected area the necessary time to heal, which can be a period of weeks to months.
How long does muscle damage take to heal?
For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months . In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary. With proper treatment, most people recover completely.
Should you massage a pulled muscle?
Massage. Therapeutic massage helps loosen tight muscles and increase blood flow to help heal damaged tissues. Applying pressure to the injured muscle tissue also helps remove excess fluid and cellular waste products. A 2012 study found that massage immediately following an injury may even speed strained muscle healing.
Should I stretch a strained muscle?
Should you stretch a strained or pulled muscle? Like we mentioned above, the best thing to do for your pulled muscle is to rest it . Physical Therapist Lewis says “You would want to avoid stretching the muscle for a few days to allow the acute injury to begin to heal.
What are the 4 types of overuse injuries?
- Broken bones.
- Concussion.
- Dislocated shoulder.
- Fractures.
- Knee injuries, such as ACL and meniscus tears.
- Muscle sprains and strains.
- Rotator cuff tears.
What injury takes the longest to heal?
- Nerves typically take the longest, healing after 3-4 months.
- Cartilage takes about 12 weeks to heal.
- Ligaments take about 10-12 weeks to heal.
- Bones take about 6-8 weeks to heal on average.
Can overuse injuries be permanent?
Repetitive stress injuries happen when you do the same thing over and over, damaging the soft tissues, such as muscles and ligaments. Overexertion and overuse injuries can cause serious and permanent damage to your body .
How can I speed up muscle recovery?
- Drink a lot of water. Hydrating after a workout is key to recovery. ...
- Get enough sleep. Getting proper rest is easily one of the most effective ways to recover from any form or degree of physical exertion. ...
- Eat nutritious food. ...
- Massage.
How long does a deep tissue bruise take to heal?
Recovery time can range between a few days to a few weeks . Though many cases of muscle bruising heal on their own, more severe muscle injuries may require medical attention. If your symptoms don't improve within a few days of developing the injury, see your doctor.
What foods help repair muscle damage?
- Kale (for Vitamin C and E) This dark green leafy veggie is a superfood that packs in more nutrients than you can count. ...
- Pumpkin Seeds (for Zinc) ...
- Carrots (for Vitamin A) ...
- Tuna (for Omega 3) ...
- Nuts (for B-Complex Vitamins)
Do pulled muscles hurt immediately?
With a pulled muscle, however, the pain is usually immediate . “The pain from a pulled muscle is intense, sharp, and localized to where the injury occurred and can also be associated with swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the joints nearby,” said Gregory.
What is the fastest way to heal a pulled muscle?
- Rest. Rest the muscle for a few days or until your doctor gives you the okay. ...
- Ice. Apply ice to the injury for 20 minutes each hour you're awake. ...
- Compression. Wrapping the muscle with an elastic bandage can help bring down swelling. ...
- Elevation. ...
- Medication. ...
- Heat.
How long will a muscle strain last?
For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months. In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary. With proper treatment, most people recover completely.
