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Pulled Muscles and Massage
2/18/2015
A pulled muscle or strained muscle can occur from many things. Playing sports, lifting heavy objects, serious back trauma, or even bending down or twisting in the wrong way can cause a muscle to over-extend and hurt itself. One of the first things to do is to make sure it’s just a pulled muscle—if you see any discoloration or swelling, have muscle spasms, or experience a large amount of pain, seek medical attention.
If you are sure you have a pulled muscle, one of the first things you need to do is rest. Take as much strain off the muscle as you can by lying down and resting. Immediately put an ice pack on the affected area to help stop any swelling. Remember not to put the ice directly on your skin. Leave the cold pack on for about 15 minutes, then repeat every hour or so for the first day.
For the next several days, do what you can to avoid putting any extra strain on the muscle. However, be sure you do stretch and do some light movement with it. If you don’t, it may become stiff and hurt worse than before when you do start using it. In most cases, this means simply go about your normal routine but be careful not to lift heavy items, etc. Apply an ice pack to the area a few times a day.
You might also want to add a compression bandage to it. This will help reduce the swelling, but remember not to wrap it too tightly. That can cut off the blood flow. Also elevate the area if possible.
If it continues to hurt after several days, you may make an appointment for a massage at a day spa. A massage can help increase blood flow to the area, which in turn will promote healing. It can also help decrease the swelling in the area, especially if the masseuse applies hot stones or other forms of heat before they begin working on a stiff and sore muscle.
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