It may not feel like it in the moment, but there’s hope when you experience a painful muscle strain!

Yes, pulling a muscle is inconvenient and downright uncomfortable to experience, but our AFC Urgent Care Powdersville explains how to properly deal with muscle strains below. Read on!

What Happens When I Strain a Muscle?

Before learning how to treat a muscle strain, it’s important to know what a muscle strain actually is. A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, is when the fibers in your muscle or tendon overstretch or tear. Minor injuries may only overstretch a muscle or tendon, while more severe injuries may involve partial or complete tears in these tissues.

Additionally, muscle strains most commonly occur in the lower back and the hamstrings, the muscles at the back of the thigh. We’ve listed some common muscle strain symptoms below.

Common Muscle Strain Symptoms

• Pain or tenderness
• Redness or bruising
• Limited motion
• Muscle spasms
• Swelling
• Muscle weakness

How Should I Treat a Strained Muscle?

The first thing you should try is the R.I.C.E approach, which we’ve listed below.

If your muscle strain is more severe (such as if you experienced a “popping” noise when you pulled your muscle), you’ll need to visit our AFC center for treatment.

R.I.C.E. Approach

• Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort, but don’t avoid all physical activity.
• Ice. Even if you’re seeking medical help, ice the affected area immediately. Use an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes each time and repeat every two to three hours while you’re awake for the first few days after the injury.
• Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don’t wrap it too tightly or you may hinder circulation.
• Elevation. Elevate the injured area, especially at night, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling.

Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Powdersville center today to get the non-emergency medical care that you need!