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A muscle strain, also known as a pulled muscle, is a common type of muscle injury. This happens when your muscle becomes overstretched or torn, which is a result of fatigue, overuse, or misuse. These strains can occur in any muscle, albeit they are most common in the lower back, neck, shoulder, and hamstring.
These strains can lead to discomfort and may even restrict movement within the affected muscle group. The best treatment for pulled muscle usually involves at-home remedies, such as the application of ice or heat, as well as the use of anti-inflammatory medications. However, the treatment for muscle injury that is more severe may require medical intervention.
In this article, we will briefly cover the primary causes of sprains and then discuss the treatment for muscle injury. By the end of this post, you will know exactly what to take for a pulled muscle.
To diagnose your condition, your healthcare professional will take your medical history and conduct a comprehensive physical examination.
Often, the abrupt or excessive force exerted on a muscle can lead to sprains. A very common example is lifting heavy weights.
Repetitive use of your muscles could result in sprains. For example, if you often engage in running or typing, the muscles involved will inflict considerable tension. Furthermore, people who work in physically-demanding jobs (e.g., construction) are also prone to muscle injury.
The muscles that are inadequately conditioned are more susceptible to injury. This susceptibility could be due to an absence of exercise or improper posture.
An incorrect technique during physical activity or lifting can place your muscles under excessive stress, increasing the risk of injury.
Strains can also occur as a result of falls. For instance, a fall could result in a strain of the back or neck. The treatment for muscle injury in this scenario will depend on the severity of your injury.
As we age, our muscles, tendons, and ligaments become less flexible and more vulnerable to injury.
Certain medical conditions, such as arthritis, could augment the risk of muscle strains.
Cryotherapy is a technique that utilizes low temperatures as a treatment for muscle injury. Unlike thermotherapy, cold compresses serve to decelerate everything.
It's not uncommon to see medical teams of professional athletes using cold compresses when a player suffers an injury. This strategy is designed to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
To prevent possible harm, avoid applying cold packs and ice massages directly to your skin. The preferred method is to place a thin towel over the injured site before applying the cold compress.
Thermotherapy improves blood flow to a specific area of the body due to the high temperature. The heat can help soothe the muscles and alleviate stiffness. Using the principles of thermotherapy, hot compresses can be a very effective treatment of muscle injury.
Thermotherapy is a technique used by physical therapists to accelerate biochemical reactions at the site of injury.
Some people would argue that cryotherapy (i.e., cold therapy) is one of the best muscle strain treatments. However, using cold therapy requires limiting your exposure to the cold source. This is because low temperatures can damage your skin if you apply it for too long. However, hot compresses need to be used for a good amount of time to give you the desired results.
After an intense workout, you should apply the hot compresses for 15 to 20 minutes to relieve your symptoms. This is the case of minor stiffness.
However, if your pain is moderate or severe, you should increase this duration. Optimally, you would apply hot compresses for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
We know this can be daunting when the pain is localized in different areas of the body. Therefore, you can help yourself with a hot bath.
Before receiving any treatment, you will need to undergo an initial consultation, which takes a look at your medical history and the circumstances that led to your injury. Once an appropriate diagnosis is reached, your therapist will come up with a comprehensive recovery and the best treatment for pulled muscle.
Your rehabilitator will also provide you with tips, educative material, and the necessary exercise routines to get over this phase.
Generally speaking, your treatment will consist of evidence-based therapeutic interventions and exercise routines. Some of these programs will get modified to fit your needs.
Examples of the treatments used in sports injury rehabilitation include:
Graded activity
Manual therapy
Massage therapy
Orthopedic massage
Taping
Electrotherapy
The best part of this practice is that sports injury rehabilitators follow a complete approach that is personalized for you. A one-size-fits-all approach is no longer ideal.
Unlike several other alternative therapies, researchers extensively studied cupping therapy as one of the remedies for muscle strain and injury.
Today, you could find many systemic reviews, meta-analyses, and large randomized studies that assess the effects of cupping therapy on the human body.
Note that individual studies may either exaggerate or underestimate the effects of cupping, which is why researchers are opting for systematic reviews to get a comprehensive understanding of how it all works.
When it comes to relieving delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and other conditions that affect the fibers inside your muscles, cupping therapy seems to be completely safe.
In a report published by Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers found that cupping therapy significantly reduces pain in people with low back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. The results were compared to other forms of alternative therapies, and cupping therapy always excelled.
Additionally, cupping is excellent for alleviating physical complaints and inducing a state of relaxation. This is achieved through the sedation of the central nervous system by releasing anxiolytic chemicals (e.g., endorphins)
According to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, cupping therapy may help with muscle soreness by alleviating the pressure from tense myofibers.
In other studies, researchers found a solid connection between cupping therapy and better mental health. Cupping therapy helps with depression, anxiety, and other psychogenic problems.
You might be asking, “How does this help with physical pain?”
According to one study, the incidence of psychogenic pain can reach up to 1 in 3,000 patients, which translates to a very large number of patients.
Psychogenic pain refers to a sensation of dolor (i.e., pain) that is not caused by any organic condition. In other words, the origin of the pain stems from the patient’s own brain.
Unfortunately, treating this pain is often challenging due to poor diagnostic criteria and lack of an underlying disease.
Actovegin is a biological drug with a rich history of treating sports injuries for the past six decades. Scientists scrutinized this drug for its potential to enhance performance. Many people believe that Actovegin is among the best treatment for muscle injury.
Based on recent scientific studies, it appears that Actovegin has several benefits for addressing muscle injury. Current research suggests it has antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. Additionally, Actovegin might stimulate macrophage responses that are key to muscle repair.
One recently published study supports the drug's clinical efficacy in enhancing muscle repair. It's important to note that Actovegin is very safe for treating muscle injuries.
According to an audit from The Football Association, a professional football team with 25 players might experience around 5 hamstring injuries each season, leading to over 80 lost football days. In an article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, a group of experts emphasized the effectiveness of Dr. Mueller-Wohlfahrt's injection treatment regimen for muscle injuries, involving a combination of homeopathic and pharmacological substances.
This Ph.D. thesis examined Actovegin and its potential impact on muscle injuries. The study confirmed that Actovegin could regulate the inflammatory response, which is a crucial aspect of muscle healing. The research also found that Actovegin impacted CD68+ and CD163+ macrophages, which could potentially influence the muscle healing process.
From this data and previous literature, experts developed an intramuscular Actovegin injection therapy to treat acute muscle injuries. The first clinical study using this treatment was conducted on professional footballers. The subsequent results confirmed Actovegin's effectiveness in treating muscle strains.
Recovering from a muscle injury can be a really daunting experience, especially without guidance. Searching for what to take for a pulled muscle can be an even more confusing task. Luckily, there are several effective treatment options to choose from, including the medicine for muscle tear.
We hope that this article managed to shed some light on the best remedies for muscle strain and injury, including Actovegin.
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