How Long Does It Take For Pulled Muscles To Heal

What Is The Average Pulled Back Muscle Recovery Time

A pulled back muscle may happen suddenly while lifting a squirming child or overexerting at the gym. It may also appear over time as weak muscles steadily debilitate and trigger injuries. A pulled muscle in the back refers to one of two injuries:

• A sprain, which is when the ligaments that hold bones together are torn or stretched.1
• A strain, which is when muscles are stretched or torn.1

Both injuries may have similar symptoms, with the primary one being pain. The most common location for a pulled back muscle is in the lumbar spine, which is the lower back area. This painful injury is the most common cause of disability and lost work time among people under the age of 45.2

Grade 1 Pulled Muscle

On an MRI, a grade 1 injury typically shows up as small tears to the muscle, and it’s “really common and it’s easily healed,” says Vlahakis. With this type of pulled muscle, you might feel pain during or after your activity, and after a day or two, you may feel some soreness or weakness when you try to use the muscle or perform an exercise that targets it, adds Malek.

“There are a couple of ways a minor strain can occur, and one of them is just sports a running sport or impact sport of any kind can cause a small muscle strain,” says Vlahakis. But this type of strain can also be caused by repetitive microtrauma to a muscle, such as by constantly lifting or loading heavy objects, she explains. “It didn’t hurt them the first three times, but after weeks of doing this particular lifting task, they end up injuring themselves a grade one,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be a sports injury. It can happen with everyday life.”

How long does this pulled muscle take to heal?

How Long Does A Pulled Muscle Take To Heal

A pulled muscle or a muscle strain is a painful condition that occurs as the muscles are overstretched or torn. This condition generally occurs when the muscles are exposed to excessive physical activities, over usage, fatigue, or improper use of the particular muscle. It can occur in any muscle, but it has been seen that it is more common in muscles on lower back, shoulder, neck, and hamstrings. Pulled muscle causes pain and discomfort over the affected area. Pain intensity increases with activities and movements. The muscle pulls limits mobility and the ability to carry out daily activities. Muscle injury is classified as mild, moderate, and severe injury.1 Mild to moderate muscle pull can be treated at home with adequate rest, ice application, heat compresses, and over the counter anti-inflammatory medications. Muscle pull of severe kinds may require further radiological and ultrasound studies to conclude the extent of the injury. Such a condition should be evaluated for treatment by qualified and an experienced physician. Muscle injury is also classified as non-structural injury or structural injury.2 The mild or grade I muscle injury is non-structural muscle injury and moderate or grade II as well as severe or grade III muscle injury is considered structural muscle injury.

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Types Of Muscle Strain

Doctors assess the severity of a strain based on the strength or range of motion you have after the injury. There are three grades of muscle strain:

• Grade I: A mild strain that damages less than 5% of individual muscle fibers
• Grade II: Significant loss of motion and strength. It involves more muscle fibers, but the muscle hasnt ruptured. This type of strain takes around two months to heal
• Grade III: The muscle or tendon ruptures, causing swelling and severe pain. This level of injury may require surgery to reattach the damaged muscle or tendon

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Muscle pull is technically a muscle strain or sprain that happens when the muscles and ligaments get overstretched and tear up. There are various reasons why muscle pull happens, like fatigue, overuse of the limbs or any specific area in the body, or not using a muscle properly. Sprains and strains can happen on any muscle, although some muscles in the lower back, shoulders, hamstring behind the thigh, and neck are more susceptible to a muscle pull. The pain caused by them can limit movement in those certain areas and even when one tries to move, it hurts more.

Mild and moderate muscle pulls can patch up with heat, ice, and some anti-inflammatory medicine. Yet, if the injury is severe, it is necessary to consult a doctor and have the injury checked. Another type of muscle pull is the acute muscle strain, where the muscle tears all of sudden due to trauma or any sort of injury. This type of injury can be caused due to poor conditioning, the flexibility of the body and the muscles, not warming up before work, and sometimes even fatigue. Lifting something heavy and in an awkward position, jumping, running, throwing something, losing footing and slipping can also be the causes of sudden muscle pull.

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Can Muscle Strains Be Prevented

• Avoid sitting in one position for too long.
• Find a chair that offers good support for your lower back.
• Practice good posture whenever you sit or stand.
• Always bend at the knees and push with your legs when lifting heavy objects.
• Whenever available, use handrails on stairways.
• Stay off slippery surfaces.

When Should You Go To Urgent Care For A Muscle Strain

• When Should You Go to Urgent Care…

If youve ever been doing work in the yard, exercising at the gym or simply lifting a box and felt a sudden painful sensation in your muscle, theres a good chance youve experienced a muscle strain.

Muscles strains typically happen as a result of fatigue, overuse or improper use of a muscle.

While they can occur in any muscle, they typically affect the lower back, hamstring, neck and shoulder muscles.

When you strain your muscle, its likely your movement will be restricted within the muscle group that is affected.

If your strain is mild or moderate, you should be able to treat it at home using ice, heat and anti-inflammatory medication however, more severe strains typically need medical attention.

So how do you know when your strain is considered serious enough to see a doctor?

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Physiotherapy For Muscle Strain

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 physio or you can book an appointment yourself. You can also see a physio privately.

Your physio 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.

When You Ignore A Muscle Injury

Although RICE Rice, Ice, Compression, Elevation can help with sprains and minor overuse injuries, other conditions, may require medical attention and eventually therapeutic intervention.

Playing through your injury or returning to work after an accident without seeking medical attention ultimately worsens it. Your muscles dont heal correctly and the rest of your body has to compensate for the weakened area. This aspect can result in additional strain, overuse injuries or fractures.

As one common scenario, the tendons connecting muscle to your bones have to pick up the slack. Yet the extra force places a higher degree of stress on your bodys tissue. This effect leads to inflammation, which can then materialize as tendonitis.

Especially for repetitive motions that engage the muscle and tendon, youll notice a burning pain or swelling, even during mundane activities like climbing stairs.

Your bodys cartilage also feels it when you suddenly apply more stress. This can result in fluid accumulating in your joint and lead to symptoms like pain, swelling and decreased range of motion.

Your bodys skeletal structure can also experience a degree of misalignment, reducing range of motion and leading to postural problems. As you place a greater degree of stress on certain bones within the body, youll start to experience stress fractures, which may eventually become a permanent break.

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How Do You Treat Back Strain

Back pain will not get better by lying down. Inactivity can actually make the pain worse. It reduces muscle tone and flexibility and might increase the risk of a blood clot.

Over-the-counter hot or cold packs can help with pain, as can some anti-inflammatory medicines. Movement has been proven to normalize pain response with your nerves. Staying active is the best remedy. Your doctor may recommend certain exercises, but ultimately sprained back healing time is lessened if proper treatment is implemented early.

Why Does It Take That Long For A Pulled Muscle To Heal

While acute muscle strains and sprains happen due to sudden movements, chronic muscle pulls can happen due to repetitive movement, like playing sports or working regularly and hard, sitting and laying in an awkward position, and such. The first aid for muscle strain includes the RICE method, which includes Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

It is necessary to visit a doctor when the pain is there still after a week of home remedies and rest, if the injured area is numb, there is blood leaking from the injury. They must also visit the doctor if they cant walk, or move their arms or legs. The treatment will be decided after examining the injured part with a physical exam and some tests like MRI and X-rays, to determine the severity of the injury.

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Spiertrekking is technisch gezien een spierspanning of verstuiking die optreedt wanneer de spieren en ligamenten overbelast raken en scheuren. Er zijn verschillende redenen waarom spiertrekking optreedt, zoals vermoeidheid, overmatig gebruik van de ledematen of een specifiek gebied in het lichaam, of het niet goed gebruiken van een spier. Verstuikingen en verrekkingen kunnen op elke spier voorkomen, hoewel sommige spieren in de onderrug, schouders, hamstrings achter de dij en nek gevoeliger zijn voor spiertrekkingen. De pijn die ze veroorzaken, kan de beweging in die bepaalde gebieden beperken en zelfs als je probeert te bewegen, doet het meer pijn.

Milde en matige spiertrekkingen kunnen worden verholpen met warmte, ijs en een aantal ontstekingsremmende medicijnen. Maar als de verwonding ernstig is, is het noodzakelijk om een arts te raadplegen en de verwonding te laten controleren. Een ander type spiertrekking is de acute spierspanning, waarbij de spier plotseling scheurt als gevolg van een trauma of een andere verwonding. Dit type blessure kan worden veroorzaakt door een slechte conditie, de flexibiliteit van het lichaam en de spieren, niet opwarmen voor het werk en soms zelfs vermoeidheid. Iets zwaars optillen en in een onhandige houding, springen, rennen, iets gooien, verlies van houvast en uitglijden kunnen ook de oorzaken zijn van plotselinge spiertrekking.

Grade 4 Pulled Muscle

Of all the types of pulled muscles, a grade 4 is the most severe, as the entire muscle or tendon is completely torn, says Malek. “The person will experience significant pain,” she explains. “They may feel, like, a pop or if they feel the muscle, they’ll feel a big gap.” And this “significant” pain isn’t just an intense, spasm-like feeling. “Some people describe it as being shot people have told me they look around to see who shot them,” adds Vlahakis. “You’ll get black and blue right away, swollen, and you cannot use it.”

How long does this pulled muscle take to heal?

In this case, surgery may be required and fast. “We can’t wait because if you could get a very easy surgery to put it back together, it’ll be better to get it sooner,” says Vlahakis. “When a biceps tendon ruptures, it just falls and hangs, tack it back to where it needs to be before it gets too short and too weak to repair.” Just like a grade 3 injury, how long it takes to heal this type of pulled muscle depends on the affected muscle. For example, you might need three to six months of rehabilitation after surgery for a torn hamstring, three months for a torn bicep tendon, and four to six months for a torn rotator cuff before you can resume your usual workouts or athletic activities, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. If your injury doesn’t require surgery, you still might be out for at least 12 to 16 weeks, says Malek.

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Simple Treatments For Muscle Soreness And When You Should See A Doctor

Simple remedies for soreness include using an ice pack, massages, stretching, and most importantly, rest. Muscle soreness should not last longer than five days. Seek medical attention if the pain doesnt subside after a week, the injured area feels numb, or you are unable to walk or move your arms or legs. These symptoms could indicate a bigger issue, such as damage to your joints or muscles.

How Long Does Pain From A Pulled Muscle Last

by Social Joey | Aug 3, 2021 | Uncategorized

Pulling a muscle is a terrible feeling. It hurts and limits your mobility for a significant amount of time. How significant, though?

Our AFC Urgent Care Monroe Road team answers this question and shares additional helpful information below, so keep reading!

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What Is A Muscle Tear

Torn muscles can occur any time your muscle becomes strained or overstretched. This can happen as a result of exhaustion and fatigue, improper use, or overuse. While any muscle can be affected, torn muscles most often occur in the lower back, neck, shoulder and hamstring.

Torn muscles are categorized by the severity of the injury: mild which is a simple strain affecting 5% of a muscles fibers moderate which is up to 25%-30% and accompanied by swelling, decreased range of motion and pain and severe which is an actual tear in a muscle that is accompanied by extensive swelling.

Muscle Strains Vs Hernias

Muscles strains and hernias can both be caused by overuse, but theyre different injuries.

Muscles strains are caused by tears in the fibers of your muscles. Unless theyre very severe, you can treat a muscle strain at home with rest, icing and over-the-counter medicine.

Hernias happen when one of your internal organs or other body parts breaks through the wall of muscle or tissue that normally holds it in place. Hernias usually dont get better on their own, and youll probably need surgery to repair one.

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Symptoms Of A Pulled Back Muscle

If you have pulled a muscle in your back, you will probably feel it as a sudden sharp pain when you lift, bend, or twist. The pain can range from mildly irritating to intense and debilitating depending on how badly the muscle is strained.

If your muscle strain is mild or moderate, the pain usually goes away within a couple of weeks. Severe strains can take a couple of months or more to heal. The pain is usually at its worst for the first few hours or days. After that, less intense pain may continue for another week or two until your muscles heal.

If the pain is contained in your lower back, buttocks, or hips, it is most likely a pulled muscle. You may also have some bruising, swelling, stiffness, or limited movement in the affected area. Its important to identify your symptoms because, if they dont fit the classic description of a pulled muscle, you may have a different more serious problem. For example, if the pain feels hot or tingly, it may be caused by an inflamed nerve root. Pain that radiates down your legs and into your calves and feet is usually associated with sciatica, often the result of a herniated disc, and not a pulled muscle.

The Difference Between Soreness And A Pulled Muscle

Telling the difference can be difficult if you dont know what to look out for. With muscle soreness, you wont feel it until a day to two later. 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.

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Foods To Prevent Pulled Muscle

Aside from physical exercises and medications, there are foods that can help you prevent or treat a pulled muscle.

• Foods rich in protein
• Fruits and vegetables, particularly those abundant with Vitamin C
• Foods rich with Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Zinc-rich foods
• Foods rich with Calcium and Vitamin D
• Creatine
• Glucosamine
• Foods rich with magnesium, silicon, Vitamins K1 and K2, boron, inositol, and arginine

When you have a pulled muscle, there are some factors that are out of your control. However, you can certainly control what you consume. Make sure that you eat nutritious foods only in order to help your body recover from a muscle strain, and to prevent it from happening again.

Where The Injury Occurred

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. Shoulder and lower back pain can sometimes be mistaken for injury when its just soreness.

Below are some common areas of your body where injuries can occur during a workout or intense physical activity:

• Low back strain This is the most common injury, resulting from weak muscles in the back due to prolonged inactivity, sitting, or improper lifting techniques.
• Shoulder strain Shoulder joints have a wide range of motion repetitive motions such as throwing or swimming can often lead to overuse and rotator cuff injuries.
• Wrist strain Your wrist is a complex joint that offers a high degree of mobility. Too much weight or repetitive motions can place unintended stress and cause injury.
• Knee pain Also known as runners knee, the pain occurs around the kneecap and you may hear a creaking, popping, or grating sound.
• Ankle sprain Twisting an ankle can happen anytime. It can occur while walking, running, or just simply losing your footing.
• Pulled groin This is fairly common and occurs during squats, sprints, or lunges.

If you think you are injured, look for signs of redness, bruising, or swelling, said Gregory. If you see swelling in a focused area, its a key indicator that your body is trying to heal or that something more serious is going on.

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