Have You Pulled A Muscle?

"Muscles contract and relax to help the body move. When a muscle is overstretched, it results in a strain or pull. Some of the most common locations for muscle strains or pulls are in the legs, neck and back. A pull or a strain is different from a muscle sprain because the sprain results when a muscle's ligament is overstretched or torn.

Note when the muscle pain occurs. If the pain starts during an activity, it usually indicates a pulled muscle. If the pain begins after playing a sport, performing yard work or other activity, it is probably delayed-onset muscle soreness and is not considered a strain or pull.

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Assess your pre-injury events. If you did not stretch your muscles prior to incurring your injury, you may have a pulled muscle. Pulled muscles commonly result from overstretching "cold" muscles or from returning to a sport too soon after taking time off either from another injury or after the off-season.

Stretch the sore muscle. If a muscle is pulled, stretching it usually does not help decrease the pain. Some people find massaging the sore muscle will help, since it stimulates blood flow to the area, while stretching the muscle does not.

Look at the injured area. You may notice swelling the first few hours following the injury if you have a pulled muscle. A pulled muscle can cause discoloration or bruising in the injured area over the several days following the event.

Treat the injury. Pulled muscles usually respond well to the RICE method. This involves resting the injured area, icing the sore muscle, applying a compression bandage to the area and elevating the sore body part. You should take a break from your normal activities, especially those that may aggravate the pulled muscle. The combination of ice, compression and elevation will help reduce swelling in the injured area."