If you love fitness and working out, at some point down the line, you are likely to suffer from an injury. And one of the most common ailments that can affect you is a pulled muscle. Obviously, you will want to recover so you can get back to training at the earliest possible opportunity, but you also don’t want to risk making anything worse. With this in mind, here are just a few ways that you can help your recovery time when you pull a muscle.
Ice the Affected Area
When you notice some pain that feels like you have pulled a muscle, you should apply some ice as soon as possible, which will help to both reduce the swelling and ease the pain. There are a couple of different ways that you can apply the ice, including using an ice pack and wrapping up some cubes in a towel. You can apply the ice throughout the day of injury, but try to limit each application time to 15 minutes.
Get Some Rest
It may seem like an obvious one, but the last thing that you want to do is rush your recovery and risk doing yourself another injury. The first thing you will want to do is stop the activity that caused the strain in the first place. For minor muscle injuries, the average time to rest the affected area is between two and five days, but you should return to your regular fitness regimen steadily and listen to your body if it tells you that you are pushing yourself too hard.
Gentle Stretching
Depending on where the injury has occurred, there are all kinds of different stretches that you can try to bring back your regular mobility, strength and flexibility. Completing these stretches in the days following your injury can help to speed up your recovery time. Try not to push yourself too hard so you don’t risk any further damage.
Turn to the Professionals
Getting some professional treatment may be one of your best options when it comes to speeding up recovery. One that many people find effective is massage, which can help to stimulate blood circulation, release tension that has built up and reduce swelling. Check out some premium spa treatments to find the right option for you.
Soaking in a Warm Bath
Though ice may be the thing you turn to straight after injury, heat can help to soothe and promote recovery in the following days. Try running yourself a nice warm bath and adding some salts. Simply sitting back and relaxing can help to ease any stiffness that you are still suffering from and enhance your mobility.
Essentially, speeding up the recovery time of pulled muscles is all about getting plenty of rest and not pushing yourself too hard, too soon. Try out the five methods on this list to get yourself back on your feet and train again at the earliest possible time.
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