Any tips for dealing with a muscle strain?

[thegreenyogi]

[Zack-Bann]

Many things can be done…


But assuming you’re doing it alone I would say applying Ice (on 5 minutes, off 3 minutes, and on again) would help a lot


A hot shower is also good for muscle strain


Eating protein accelerates recovery so its also a good idea


And getting a good night’s sleep allows the body to repair the damaged cells


(And yes muscle strain is something I know a LOT about 😂)

[NathanDavis]

depending on the muscle... a good massage could help

and a cold shower, even an ice bath... that does help for me

[sage2021]

I use over the counter pasin patches called Salonpas. The come in a box in a few different sizes.
They really work for me and one of the reasons for their use is for strains.

[WindAtMyBack]

The "correct" answer is to go to a doctor. A strain can potentially be very serious. Continuing to use the muscles without proper treatment is never a good idea. It could make things much worse.

But sense you are asking on here, I assume you aren't planning on going to a doctor.

Are you sure it's a strain? I ask because words like 'sprain' and 'strain' get used generically for all kinds of things whether it's actually a strain or sprain or not.

If it's really a strain, the standard home treatment is RICE
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

Rest should be obvious for almost all injuries. The idea of "shaking it off" or "working through it" might be fine for "ouch that hurt" kind of injuries, but not for most real injuries.

The ice reduces the blood flow to the injury. I always forgot when you are supposed to use ice and when to use heat. After looking it up a million times I just remember that ice is for most NEW injuries. In other words, for acute temporary injuries as opposed to long term chronic conditions like arthritis. Heat can also be used for sore muscles. But a strain is not sore muscles like you regularly get from working out. A strain is a real injury.

Be careful not to frost burn the skin. Wrap the ice in a towel or something so the ice is not in direct contact with the skin. Don't keep it on too long. If you don't have an ice pack, you can use a bag of frozen peas, corn, etc. It is cold and semi-flexible so it can take the shape of the limb.

[Sonorous]

I've strained my muscles many times. And every single time required things like adequate rest & sleep, optimal amount of protein & zinc consumed, calories at maintenance or slightly higher & macros & micros optimized, doing light movement to stimulate blood flow to the area, etc.

[loveslongnails]

Alternating heat and ice a few times a day will help with the discomfort. A strain requires time to heal. Rest, hydration, proper diet and increased blood flow to the area are all essential to repairing the tissue. The natural instinct is to take pain relievers, like ibuprofen, to ease the pain, but they work against you because it constricts the blood flow to the region.

[Nikki1989]

Ice and Ibuprofen are the only things that work for me.

[AmeerX]

She shouldn't use Ibuprofen. There are better alternatives to this

[AmeerX]

Use Iodex or Salicylic acid balm or ointment and take rest.

[Anonymous]

Rest. When I used to dance competively I used to ice bucket my legs and vist the sauna, steam room jacuzzi but nothing works better than sleep.

[petitedollbabee]

I use volatrin emulgel on the muscle and rest it.

[petitedollbabee]

Voltarin*

[pascal_climbs]

Go for a good hot massage

[Agape93]

Heat it, rest it and take ibuprofen

[kaucky1]

Massage therapy warm cloth

[jahaims]

Rest it and ice it

[StevenMcGarrett]

Walk it off!