There are treatments for strained muscles, and patience is the key to healing. A muscle strain, also called a pulled muscle, occurs when a muscle is stretched too far. Microscopic tears can occur within the muscle fibers. This type of injury usually causes mild to severe pain, and other symptoms, like bruising and immobility, can develop too. Common muscle strains includepulled hamstrings,groin strains,pulled abdominal muscles, andcalf strains.
Jeannot Olivet / Getty Images
Symptoms and Grading
The usual symptoms of this type of injury include pain, spasms of the muscle, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. Often an athlete will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation in the muscle, and will then be unable to continue their activities.
How to Treat and Prevent Leg Cramps
Treating a Pulled Muscle
The amount of activity you will be able to do, and the time required for recovery, are going to vary depending on the severity of the injury. Here are some guidelines to help get you moving in the right direction.
How to Get Rid of Sore Muscles: 10 Relief Tips
Rest
Rest is recommended for the early recovery phase. This should last from one to five days, depending on the severity of the injury.
Immobilization is not usually necessary, and lack of movement can lead to muscle and joint stiffness. This can be harmful and interfere with movement.
Ice
Ice application helps reduce swelling, bleeding, and pain.Icing should begin as soon as possible after sustaining a pulled muscle. Ice applications can be done frequently, but should not be done for more than 15 minutes at a time.
How to Ice an Injury the Right Way
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce swelling and alleviate painful symptoms. These medications have potential side effects, including bleeding. So you should check with your healthcare provider prior to starting anti-inflammatory medications.
Which Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Is Best?
Gentle Stretching
Stretching and strengthening are useful once the muscle has healed. Stretching is also important for the prevention of muscle strain injuries. Muscles that are more flexible are less likely to be injured.
Strengthening
After injuring the muscle, it is important to regain strength before returning to athletic activities. Both the injury itself and the rest period following the injury can reduce the strength of the muscle. And stronger muscles are less likely to sustain a re-injury.
Avoid Muscle Fatigue
Athletes should use caution, especially as they become fatigued, as the muscle becomes more susceptible to strain injuries.
Warm up Properly
Warming up prior to athletic competition or sports will help loosen the muscle and prevent injuries. Jumping into a sport with stiff muscles can lead to a higher chance of straining the muscle.
Laboratory studies have shown that temperature can influence the stiffness of a muscle.By keeping the body and muscles warm, the muscle is less likely to sustain a strain type of injury.
A Word From Verywell
After a muscle injury, it’s important to focus on the early steps of healing, and be sure to increase your level of activity gradually as your body allows. In the meantime, as you are healing, make sure to stay moderately active to avoid stiffness and atrophy—which can be complications after a period of inactivity.
Is Ice or Heat Better for Treating an Injury?
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hospital for Special Surgery,Muscle Strain: What You Need to Know About Pulled Muscles.Kary JM.Diagnosis and management of quadriceps strains and contusions.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2010;3(1-4):26–31. doi:10.1007/s12178-010-9064-5Malanga GA, Yan N, Stark J.Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury.Postgrad Med. 2015 Jan;127(1):57-65. doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.992719Mair SD, Seaber AV, Glisson RR, Garrett WE.The role of fatigue in susceptibility to acute muscle strain injury.Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(2):137-43. doi:10.1177/036354659602400203Ranatunga KW.Temperature effects on force and actin⁻myosin interaction in muscle: A look back on some experimental findings.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5):1538. doi:10.3390/ijms19051538Additional ReadingNoonan TJ, and Garrett WE, “Muscle Strain Injury: Diagnosis and Treatment” J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hospital for Special Surgery,Muscle Strain: What You Need to Know About Pulled Muscles.Kary JM.Diagnosis and management of quadriceps strains and contusions.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2010;3(1-4):26–31. doi:10.1007/s12178-010-9064-5Malanga GA, Yan N, Stark J.Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury.Postgrad Med. 2015 Jan;127(1):57-65. doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.992719Mair SD, Seaber AV, Glisson RR, Garrett WE.The role of fatigue in susceptibility to acute muscle strain injury.Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(2):137-43. doi:10.1177/036354659602400203Ranatunga KW.Temperature effects on force and actin⁻myosin interaction in muscle: A look back on some experimental findings.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5):1538. doi:10.3390/ijms19051538Additional ReadingNoonan TJ, and Garrett WE, “Muscle Strain Injury: Diagnosis and Treatment” J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hospital for Special Surgery,Muscle Strain: What You Need to Know About Pulled Muscles.Kary JM.Diagnosis and management of quadriceps strains and contusions.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2010;3(1-4):26–31. doi:10.1007/s12178-010-9064-5Malanga GA, Yan N, Stark J.Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury.Postgrad Med. 2015 Jan;127(1):57-65. doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.992719Mair SD, Seaber AV, Glisson RR, Garrett WE.The role of fatigue in susceptibility to acute muscle strain injury.Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(2):137-43. doi:10.1177/036354659602400203Ranatunga KW.Temperature effects on force and actin⁻myosin interaction in muscle: A look back on some experimental findings.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5):1538. doi:10.3390/ijms19051538
Hospital for Special Surgery,Muscle Strain: What You Need to Know About Pulled Muscles.
Kary JM.Diagnosis and management of quadriceps strains and contusions.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2010;3(1-4):26–31. doi:10.1007/s12178-010-9064-5
Malanga GA, Yan N, Stark J.Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury.Postgrad Med. 2015 Jan;127(1):57-65. doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.992719
Mair SD, Seaber AV, Glisson RR, Garrett WE.The role of fatigue in susceptibility to acute muscle strain injury.Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(2):137-43. doi:10.1177/036354659602400203
Ranatunga KW.Temperature effects on force and actin⁻myosin interaction in muscle: A look back on some experimental findings.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5):1538. doi:10.3390/ijms19051538
Noonan TJ, and Garrett WE, “Muscle Strain Injury: Diagnosis and Treatment” J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
