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What is a Strain?
A strain is a stretching or tearing of muscle tissue, commonly called a pulled muscle.
Causes
Strains usually occur after a fall or sudden movement that pulls or twists a part of the body violently.
Symptoms
Sharp pain at the site of an injury, followed by stiffness, tenderness, and in some cases, swelling and bruising.
Treatment
Adequate time and rest are the best healers in this case.
Alternating heat and cold applied to the affected area through a dry cloth or towel.
Use painkillers, namely ibuprofen (Advil), sparingly. These relieve pain by reducing swelling and stopping the healing process. Also, without pain you will feel that ou can move through the muscle freely and this will in turn cause further damage.
Call Your Doctor If...
- The pain, swelling, or stiffness does not improve in two to three days.
- An injured muscle does not move at all; it may have torn completely through and may require immediate medical attention.
- You have repeated strains, indicating a chronic weakness that should be evaluated by a physician.
- You have difficulty moving or walking after straining any back muscle.
- You have a fever and the area is red and hot; this may be an infection.
Prevention
- Properly warm up before beginning any strenuous physical activity.
- When stretching, only extend your body to the point that you can stretch and feel minimal pain, attempting to stretch beyond your flexibility repeatedly causes problems.
- Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight to keep unnecessary pressure off of your muscles.
- Allow your body ample time to rest between one exercise session and the next.
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