When dealing with muscle pain it's hard to know what treatment will work best for you. Icing and heating are 2 of the most natural treatment options available. Compared to medications, surgery and other treatment methods - icing and heating have been around for centuries and have always been used for muscle injury healing as a means to soothe and heal.
We understand that it can get pretty confusing to figure out what conservative treatment method will work best with all of the treatment options available to you today. To get started, you should think about the benefits you'll get from using these therapies.
What's Better to Treat Your Muscle Pain - Ice or Heat?
Ice and heat are the best treatment combination for you if:
- You're looking to heal quickly from your muscle injury and want to boost the natural power of pain relief and healing in your body.
- You don't want to repeatedly pay the cost (both from your wallet and time needed for long-term healing) of injections, medications, hospital visits or surgery.
- You want to decrease your risk of worsening your muscle injury, adding more pain, sprains, strains, pulls, spasms and/or tears to your muscle.
- You want to control your own treatment and healing at home, on your own time.
- You're looking for a tried, tested, and true method of healing that's been used for centuries and has worked for countless other muscle pain sufferers.
Combining cold and warmth is a simple yet effective way to get immediate pain relief and promote long-term healing. In your lifetime you've probably had your mom, family doctor, nurse, surgeon or physical therapist tell you to use ice right after you're injured and something warm from time to time once the swelling's gone down. It's a simple yet very effective way to relieve pain and promote healing in your injured, sprained, strained, torn, pulled or spasming muscle.
Muscle injuries are very common; they can and do happen to anyone. There are thousands of doctors and physical therapists (PTs) dealing with patients that require a solution to treat their strained / pulled muscle fast and heal it (where possible).
If you want to be proactive about properly dealing with your muscle pain, speak to your doctor about adding conservative temperature treatments to your recovery with AidMyMuscle's system using a Cold Compress or Ice Pack, MendMeShop Arnica Pain Cream, and Circulation Boost with a TShellz Wrap®.
Note: If you have an Acute (recent, inflamed) Soft Tissue Injury, Do Not Use Heat.
Your doctor knows that the sooner cold is applied, the quicker you can reduce inflammation and achieve real pain relief. This will help reduce the chance of a much longer lasting chronic injury. Heat and inflammation are a bad mix and should not be used together. Heat is good at the spa - it will help your body relax, but when it comes to an injury that is swollen, it is not a good idea (unless your physician specifically recommends otherwise).
When To Use Cold:
A Cold Compress or Ice Pack work best to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation for new injuries, re-injury and during immediate post surgery recovery. Cold should also be used during the first 24 - 72 hours of treatment, combined with resting your injury.
- 24 to 72 hours after your initial injury or when you first notice pain and swelling to stop tissue damage, relieve pain, and decrease swelling.
- After exercise, workouts or activity of any kind to prevent re-injury.
- Before and after surgery during rehabilitation to control pre and post-surgery pain and swelling.
- Anytime you feel your muscles or or joint has been over-extended, over-worked, twisted, strained or sprained causing pain and swelling.
- Anytime you have swelling, sharp throbbing pain or inflammation.
- Any other situation where you need to draw the pain and inflammation out of your muscles or joint.
When to use a TShellz Wrap® (HEAT):
- When the swelling is gone (usually after applying cold compression to the injury over 24 to 48 hr period).
- BEFORE getting out of bed in the morning. BEFORE going to bed at night.
- BEFORE exercise, workouts or activity of any kind to increase elasticity of muscles, ligaments & tendons and decrease chance of re-injury.
- AFTER surgery (once the skin wound has healed over and your physician approves) to boost blood circulation, helping surgically repaired tissues rebuild for long-term health and minimize scar tissue growth at the surgery location.
- Anytime BEFORE you feel you might undertake activity that will put significant strain on your injured muscle(s).
- Any other situation where you need to increase blood flow to your soft tissue injury to relax the area, relieve trigger point pain / spasms, prevent re-injury and enhance flexibility of tissue in the treatment area.
Here Are Some Examples For Using Cold (Ice) Vs. Heat:
You Have A Strained Quadricep Injury That's Been On-Going For Quite Some Time.
You haven't felt any pain in the area for the last week or so. You're having a "good day" (your injury is feeling fine) and decide to head out for some grocery shopping. You realize afterwards that was a bad idea because your quadricep is now quite painful.
Use COLD on your quadricep to stop further damage/micro-tearing in the muscle and help ease inflammation and pain.
Before getting active next time, do light stretches and apply a Leg TShellz Wrap® treatment to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes before undergoing strenuous activity. It will help limber up the area temporarily and lower the risk of re-straining the injury during this period.
You Pulled Your Calf Muscle A Couple Weeks Ago And Just Tweaked It Again
If pain persists and there is swelling, then apply a Cold Compress or Ice Pack as needed to reduce the radiating pain and any potential inflammation.
If there is no inflammation and little pain but you feel like the area is tightening up, use the TShellz Wrap® treatment when getting up in the morning or before undertaking activity.
Use cold after any sort of activity causes you inflammation and/or on-going pain.
Use a TShellz Wrap® before activity and when you notice stiffness to 'warm up' soft tissue and stimulate the body's healing process.
When Should You Use A TShellz Wrap® On A Strained Muscle?
Circulatory Boost treatments work best to increase blood flow circulation, maximizing the body's ability to stimulate healing. The heat effect is also helpful for soft tissue flexibility, helping minimize risk of re-injury during long-term post surgery recovery - once inflammation has been reduced. You will most likely find the TShellz Wrap® to be especially beneficial when dealing with chronic injuries (old, persistent) - heat, combined with enhanced bloodflow can have a very stimulative effect on a chronic injury - helping pull the injury out of a downward spiral and back into a recovery cycle.
Circulatory Boost should not be used directly after an injury, as you must wait for swelling to drop. Circulatory Boost treatments should not be started for a least 6 weeks after surgery because inflammation levels will be very high as the healing process starts over again. Any use of Circulatory Boost should also be combined with gradual movement to stretch out your elbow, shoulder and wrist and increase range of motion.
Increased Tissue Flexibility = Reduced Risk of Further Injury (or Re-Injury)
Using a TShellz Wrap® is a good long-term plan as this will not only maximize the body's healing capability (the body repairs itself via the bloodstream) - it can also be used on a preventive basis to relax constricted soft tissue (increased elongation & flexibility of muscles, ligaments and tendons). The use of a TShellz Wrap® indirectly enhances the local blood circulatory system, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients - the energy your tissue needs to heal.
What Makes the TShellz Wrap Different?
Home treatments via regular use of the TShellz Wrap means that:
- Your pain will be reduced.
- In most cases, your body's healing process will be accelerated (due to enhanced blood circulation) with reduced potential for re-injury*.
- Soft tissue in the treatment area will have a enhanced range of motion and increased extensibility of collagen tissue. (Chapter 9 of "Therapeutic Heat and Cold", 4th edition. (amazon.com link - Ed. Justus F. Lehmann, M.D., Williams, and Wilkin)
Our high quality wraps are registered with the FDA as medical devices which meet high manufacturing standards.
Soft tissue injuries can quickly become debilitating. At a minimum, they will impede your ability to continue your activities like you did before your injury. When dealing with shoulder, knee, wrist, hip and ankle injuries - they often seriously interfere with everyday tasks like getting dressed, driving, working or reaching for anything.
When it comes to using ice and heat for treating a soft tissue injury, it's important to keep in mind that both ice AND heat are very effective ways to relieve pain and heal. Most people will think one is better over the other from their own experience or what a doctor or PT has previously told them specific to a previous treatment plan.
The only difference between using ice and heat is that 1 is better for you at a specific time in your healing cycle. Ice is used first, right when you get your injury, to decrease pain / swelling and inflammation. Once swelling has reduced, we then focus on heat based treatments to increase blood flow circulation in soft tissue which will stimulate the body's healing response.
Each temperature has its own unique benefits for healing of soft tissue, and when used together they provide a powerful advantage to long-term healing. You may already know that ice or heat feels better on your injury, and this could influence your decision too.
The bottom line is that ice and heat are exceptional, natural, pain relievers and healers for soft tissue injuries. When we say soft tissue, we are talking about muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bursas.
There are cases where some muscle injuries will respond better to 1 temperature over the other. We want to help clear up the confusion so you know which is better (icy cold or gentle heat) and how to get the most from your treatment at home.
How Do You Use Ice / Cold as Pain Relief for Your Muscle Injury?
COLD (ice) is used to treat injuries or conditions that are red, hot, inflamed, swollen and suffering from tissue damage (a tear or recovering from surgery). Cold is a natural / organic pain reliever that numbs pain right at the source of your injury. While doing this, the cold also stops cellular break-down and reduces the amount of scar tissue forming (this is very important after surgery).
When cold is applied to muscles, tendons and ligaments, soft tissue in the are will constrict and squeeze on the blood vessels to slow down your blood flow. This in turn clamps down on the amount of fluid leaking into your injured tissue, decreasing swelling. This is why cold is used immediately to treat acute (recent) injuries or re-injuries - basically, newly damaged soft tissue. The cold slows down your body to reduce the amount of damage happening to soft tissue and decrease the swelling. This cold also has a nice side benefit of numbing nerves in and around your injury, further decreasing your pain.
In the medical world this is something called 'Vasoconstriction'.
Cold can Make Your Soft Tissue Injury Worse - How?
Applying cold can restrict blood flow and stiffen / tighten soft tissue. Cold is NOT a good treatment method for soft tissue tears or strains when the tissue is already tight and constricted, because the cold will just stiffen the tissue further. Instead, use a treatment that will increase blood flow, like the TShellz Wrap® (Circulatory Boost) to increase localized blood circulation, and relax / elongate soft tissue, making it much more pliable.
When to Use a Cold Compress or Ice Pack For Your Muscle Tear/Strain/Spasm
Cold compression works best to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation for new injuries, re-injury and during immediate post surgery recovery. Cold should also be used during the first 24 - 72 hours of treatment, combined with resting your injury.
If you've been suffering for some time with a soft tissue injury you should only use cold after activity causes you more pain or triggers more inflammatory response symptoms (red, hot, inflamed, swollen).. This would be when your the problematic area starts to hurt at the end of the day after you've been active. When used at this time, cold compression becomes a natural / organic pain reliever, targeting the localized site where you feel the pain.
Sometimes we feel pain while doing a certain activity - should you still use cold? Too much cold can reduce your ability to heal correctly, because cold is a short term pain reliever, not a deep tissue healer.
Cold slows nerve and tissue function - reducing swelling that blocks blood vessels from doing their job.
This is important because once blood vessels are blocked or damaged, they can no longer carry oxygenated blood through the tissue and tissue begin to break-down. Without cold, tissue damage and break-down continue as they cannot get the oxygen they need to survive. By limiting the amount of damage done to your hip, you also limit the amount of healing that needs to occur. This is an important step to heal soft tissue injuries faster and with less pain!
How/When Do You Use a TShellz Wrap® (Heat) for Strained/Pulled/Torn Muscles?
HEAT (warmth) is used after you've reduced your swelling / inflammation and the sharp pain is less intense (you have more of a dull / nagging ache and soft tissue tightness in the area). Warming up soft tissue is a natural way to encourage healing of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Increasing the temperature of this tissue will result in increased blood flow circulation as the body sends more blood there to attempt to remove this same heat. It's the blood in your body that will bring oxygen, nutrients and water (basically energy) to your injured soft tissue to help with healing.
When heat is applied to soft tissue, veins will start to get bigger (expand) to allow more blood flow through to your damaged or torn soft tissue. This in turn relaxes the area, making the tissue more flexible and elastic. This is why heat is used on older (chronic) injuries, to loosen tissue and bring in the blood flow your body relies on for healing. Your body will begin to heal itself after it is injured - increasing your blood flow with heat will speed up this natural process - often surprisingly well.
Doctors usually call this process 'Vasodilation'.
Heat can Make Inflammation, Swelling and Newer Injuries Worse - How?
When we injure ourselves, we start healing right away. The body will naturally raise the temperature at the site of the injury resulting in the inflammatory response (redness, heat sensation, inflammation and swelling). This 'fake fever' leaks blood flow to the area to cool it down and start the healing process.
Adding 'heat' to soft tissue when it is already inflamed and tender may make your body think there's a new threat to your tissue and increase the pain in order to get you to stop. For some people applying heat on inflamed / swollen tissue will cause the injury to swell-up even more (as much as 3 times larger than normal). You'll feel even more pain as the pressure builds in your hip.
Heat is NOT a good treatment method for inflamed soft tissue, new injuries (within the first 24 to 72 hours), right after surgery or right after a re-injury (over-use and/or sharp, throbbing pain). In these cases, heat should be applied later on in the healing cycle. In the meantime, use a Cold Compress or Ice Pack to decrease any inflammation induced pain.
The primary intent of a heat based application is to increase blood flow circulation and, as such, stimulate the body's recovery rate for older (chronic) or recent (acute) injuries, long-term post surgery recovery and more recently - for some regenerative therapies performed by doctors and PTs. Warmer temperatures should be used approximately 3 to 5 days after you first have the injury or even later if the swelling has not reduced significantly. Heat should not be started for a least 6 weeks after surgery because inflammation levels will be very high as the healing process starts over again. Any use of heat should also be combined with gradual movement to stretch out your elbow and increase range of motion.
If you have a chronic soft tissue injury that keeps getting re-injured or tight muscles due to spasms, it is recommended that you use a TShellz Wrap before activity to loosen up soft tissue (making it more flexible). Heat is shown to increase the elasticity (flexibility) of the soft tissue in and around the treatment area, making it more pliable for activity and less likely to re-injure.
Sometimes we feel pain while doing a certain activity - should you still use heat? Well, this pain is happening most likely because you didn't warm up the area before activity. Applying a heat treatment (the TShellz Wrap® in the morning before you start your day or before activity can help to boost blood-flow and increase tissue flexibility before you start activity - this helps reduce risk of further strain or injury. Use cold part-way through your day after you have been active so you can decrease pain and inflammation from the flare up.
Keep using Circulation Boost before activity and when you notice any stiffness to help warm up your tissue.
Here Are a Couple More Examples Regarding Ice or Heat:
You suffered from a tear in your deltoid (shoulder) muscle a few months ago, but since then the injury has healed a little and you no longer feel pain everyday.
You started playing in a new ball hockey league and notice your shoulder feels stiff the day after your practices and games. There's no pain, inflammation or swelling, just stiffness / soreness.
You should use HEAT (Circulation Boost) on your shoulder before your ball hockey practices and games to loosen up your shoulder. Heat can be used again the next day (right when you wake up and again at night before bed) if you notice any residual stiffness.
Before getting active next time, do light stretches and apply a Shoulder TShellz Wrap® treatment to the affected area before undergoing strenuous activity. It will help limber up the area temporarily and lower the risk of re-straining the injury during this period.
You occasionally feel sharp pains in your inner thigh (groin) that shoot down from your hip.
You're not sure if you have an injury, but this pain seems to come and go only when you do a lot of walking, exercising or any twisting / pivoting on your leg. When you feel the sharp pain, the pain will continue to radiate in your groin for a few hours after and your muscle feels weak.
The sharp / throbbing pain lingers which means heat is not advised. Use a Cold Compress or Ice Pack as a natural pain reliever in the groin area. The cold will also decrease the amount of damage being done to the muscle tissue and keep swelling down.
For most cases of significant soft tissue injury, the treatment won't just end once the pain is gone. Stretching is also an important part of muscle and tendon healing - and it's the final step needed when healing your injury with conservative treatment methods.
You would be surprised by how many people there are that don't understand the importance of stretching. Before returning to full activity after a muscle/tendon injury, PTs prescribe gentle stretching of the affected area... This is because stretching is an important part in recovery from any soft tissue injury. Consistent stretching is one of few solutions available to break up scar tissue that forms in soft tissue as it heals.
Stretching with use of a Cold Compress or Ice Pack and TShellz Wrap® is even better!
Stretching becomes is even more powerful
when combined with:
- A TShellz Wrap® to increase elasticity of tissue and stimulate blood flow in the treatment area before stretching.
- A Cold Compress or Ice Pack to reduce pain and inflammation in the affected tissue after stretching.
There is a Unique Formula used for Recovery from Muscle Injuries...
We're going to let you in on a key piece of information... In every PT appointment they will usually use conservative treatments, massage, manual manipulation and/or stretching exercises to give you this Professional 3-Step Treatment Formula:
Step 1 - Warm Up Your Muscles
For this 1st step many physical therapists will use heat, manual manipulation, deep tissue massage, clinical ultrasound devices or a warm bath to warm up soft tissue in the injury area. The goal during this first step is to increase healthy blood flow circulation and relax the affected area.
'Warming up' your hip will increase the elastic-nature of your muscle fibers making it much easier to stretch and when needed, hold the stretch. This will also extend the amount that you will be able to stretch your muscles.
Increase Your Blood Flow Circulation at Home
Use a TShellz Wrap® for 10 to 15 minutes at least half an hour before stretching. A TShellz Wrap® will promote blood flow to the affected area while warming up and relaxing the soft tissue. Circulatory Boost will make your muscle fibers more elastic and pliable, allowing for more ease of movement when you're stretching and/or exercising.
Continued treatment with Circulatory Boost will also deliver much-needed oxygen, nutrients and water (basically energy) to your hip. This will boost your own body's natural healing ability, helping speed up your recovery time.
Step 2 - Stretch
The main goal of PT is to exercise (stretch out) the affected joint to improve flexibility and range of motion. After the physical therapist has warmed up the joint, they'll get you to do a series of exercises that are focused on stretching out the muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Sometimes cardiovascular exercise, like using a stationary bike or treadmill, will be recommended under the supervision of your physical therapist.
Why are soft tissue injuries so hard to over come? In two words - scar tissue.
Soft tissue is meant to be tough yet flexible, ready to work and move extreme forces in everyday activities. Damaged tissue heals with scar tissue - little tiny band-aids that overlap each other in and around the injury with the sole purpose of mending the injury. Unfortunately, scar tissue is quite rigid and inflexible; as a result you will feel the effects of scar tissue through stiffness, tightness, weakness and tiredness in the area. Scar tissue means you will lose flexibility and the joint will tighten up on you.
Scar tissue can form fast to bring together the edges of a tendon, ligament of the tissue tear, but working fast doesn't mean that the job's done right. When scar tissue forms it doesn't come together as neatly as regular (healthy) tissue would. Scar tissue fibers will lay down over top of your tear in a cluttered, messy and jumbled up way.
Stretching helps to break up scar tissue, ultimately reducing its troublesome effects on your body - yes, it is often quite painful but ultimately necessary to gain back flexibility. The goal is to minimize scar tissue growth and to do this we recommend that you be proactive in dealing with your muscle injury.
Step 3 - Cool Down
Toward the end of your appointment your physical therapist may introduce cold compression, acupuncture, or TENS to relax the affected area after intense stretching and exercise.
Our Muscle Formula Just Works!
It may seem hard to believe, but our TShellz Wraps®, ebooks and accessory products will assist you in recovering from your injury by reducing your swelling and inflammation induced pain, maximizing localized blood flow, and increasing the flexibility / range of motion in the area of application.
Here at AidMyMuscle we pride ourselves in helping you with your healing and recovery process. Everyone at AidMyMuscle has tested and used the products, finding solutions to conditions that do not fit into the norm. This dedication to our customers and our products goes hand-in-hand with our guarantees to you as a customer:
- Guarantee #1 - Use your products diligently for up to 60 days and you will experience a significant reduction in pain. If not, I encourage you to send back the items for a 100% refund.
- Guarantee #2 - You will not be left in the dark after purchasing any product from us. AidMyMuscle Advisers and Product Specialists are available Monday to Friday by toll free phone 1-866-237-9608 or email to answer your questions or concerns.
- Guarantee #3 - Your order is guaranteed to be shipped within 24 hours on every business day.
- Guarantee #4 - All purchases receive a one year, full replacement warranty with guaranteed, prompt service.
- Guarantee #5 - You could save hundreds of dollars and possibly more, by utilizing our products, and getting back to work sooner.
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During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort at the location of your soft tissue injury until the pain and inflammation settle. Always consult your doctor and/or Physical Therapist before using any of our outstanding products, to make sure they are right for you and your condition. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results!
FAQs
Is heat or ice better for muscle injury? ›
After an acute injury, ice should be used to minimize swelling for the first two to three days. After this period, heat can be used to increase blood flow and assist the natural healing process. Applying heat too early may cause additional swelling by increasing blood flow to the injury.
Is heat or cold better for inflammation? ›When an injury or inflammation, such as tendonitis or bursitis occurs, tissues are damaged. Cold numbs the affected area, which can reduce pain and tenderness. Cold can also reduce swelling and inflammation.
Does heat actually help muscle pain? ›Heat helps soothe sore muscles that cause back pain or neck pain. It works best for injuries that are at least few days old. Heat opens blood vessels, which can assist the healing process and alleviate some of your pain. Additionally, some arthritis pain from stiff joints can benefit from heat as blood flow increases.
Is a heating pad good for a pulled muscle? ›By increasing the temperature and improving circulation, heat can relax injured muscles, heal damaged tissues and improve flexibility. Not only can heat calm pain flare-ups, but it is an excellent way to soothe muscle tension, stiffness and even chronic back pain.
Does heat make muscle inflammation worse? ›Dr. Behr advises against using heat treatments after activity or after an acute injury because heat can cause the swelling to worsen. Heating pads are the most common heat source, but even a hot, wet towel can bring relief.
Can heat make inflammation worse? ›Heat dilates, or widens blood vessels, allowing more inflammation to flow to an injured or painful area. As a general rule of thumb, ice should be used if you have recently injured an area or had surgery or a procedure. Medical studies agree that 20 minutes of icing is most effective.
How do you reduce inflammation in muscles? ›- Load up on anti-inflammatory foods. ...
- Cut back or eliminate inflammatory foods. ...
- Control blood sugar. ...
- 4. Make time to exercise. ...
- Lose weight. ...
- Manage stress.
Some feel acetaminophen works better for them, whereas others find ibuprofen better relieves a headache. Muscle ache or pulled/strained muscle. Ibuprofen typically works better for this kind of pain relief, due to the anti-inflammatory effects.
What relaxes your muscles? ›Perhaps the best and most natural way to relax your muscles is to rest. Make sure to get lots of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and try not to overwork the affected muscle. Using heat pads or ice packs on the muscle can provide immediate relief.
What is best for sore muscles? ›- Gentle stretching.
- Muscle massage.
- Rest.
- Ice to help reduce inflammation.
- Heat to help increase blood flow to your muscles. ...
- Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine, such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (brand name: Advil).
How do you make a pulled muscle heal faster? ›
- Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. ...
- Ice. Even if you're seeking medical help, ice the area immediately. ...
- Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ...
- Elevation.
Typically, discomfort from a pulled muscle will last between three to six weeks. On the other hand, recovery for more severe muscle strains can take several months. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to prevent a pulled muscle, and we've listed a few of them below.
How long should you keep a heating pad on a pulled muscle? ›Though there are no specific rules about the length of time to use a heating pad, it should stay on for about 10-30 minutes to be effective. If on for too short a time, the muscle or joint may not have an opportunity to warm up and experience pain-relieving benefits.
How many days should you ice an injury? ›How Many Days Should You Ice an Injury? Ice should be applied to reduce swelling during the first two to three days following an acute injury. Heat can then be used to promote blood flow and aid the body's natural healing process.
Can icing an injury make it worse? ›Leaving ice on an injury for too long can cause more harm than good. Because ice constricts the blood vessels, it can reduce the blood flow to the injured area and slow the healing process. Ice should not be needed after the first 24 hours unless your doctor recommends it to reduce active swelling or to relieve pain.
Why does heat make my injury worse? ›It will increase bleeding and make the problem worse. When an injury is older than 48 hours, heat can be applied in the form of heat pads, deep heat cream, hot water bottles or heat lamps. Heat causes the blood vessels to dilate (open wide) which brings more blood into the area, says Dr. Leary.
Do you heat first or ice first? ›Rule of thumb for most injuries: Ice first, heat later. But avoid using them in tandem except as directed by a health care provider, Jake said. Most injuries cause your body to react with inflammation and swelling. Ice is used to cool down the injured joint or tissue and reduce swelling.
How is a muscle tear diagnosed? ›If you have a more severe strain, your provider might use some imaging tests to diagnose your muscle strain: Ultrasound: Your provider will use an ultrasound to check for tears or fluid buildup around your strained muscle. MRI: An MRI will let your provider check for blood clots, a tear or internal bleeding.
What is the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory? ›Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements.
Does Tylenol reduce inflammation? ›Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an anti-inflammatory or NSAID. It relieves minor aches and pains, but doesn't reduce swelling or inflammation.
Does walking reduce inflammation? ›
“Our study shows a workout session doesn't actually have to be intense to have anti-inflammatory effects. Twenty minutes to half-an-hour of moderate exercise, including fast walking, appears to be sufficient,” said Hong.
What temperature is best for muscle recovery? ›Hot 'n' cold
Forget freezing in an ice-bath, using contrasting temperatures is the best way to boost recovery, according to the Journal of Science and Cycling. Try standing under a cold shower (around 12 degrees celsius) for 1 minute and then turning up the temperature (to around 40 degrees celsius) for 3 minutes.
- Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. ...
- Ice. Even if you're seeking medical help, ice the area immediately. ...
- Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ...
- Elevation.
- Rest. Rest the muscle for a few days or until your doctor gives you the okay. ...
- Ice. Apply ice to the injury for 20 minutes each hour you're awake. ...
- Compression. Wrapping the muscle with an elastic bandage can help bring down swelling. ...
- Elevation. ...
- Medication. ...
- Heat.
With a sprain, you may feel a tear or pop in the joint as it happens. The joint may then feel either stiff or unstable. With a strain, you may have spasms or cramping in the affected muscle. The worse the sprain or strain, the harder it is to use the affected area.
Is it good to walk on a pulled muscle? ›The most important thing you can do for a pulled muscle is resting it. Even if it's light stretching, continuing to stress a pulled muscle could result in further damage to muscle and a much longer healing time.
What relaxes muscles? ›Rest. Perhaps the best and most natural way to relax your muscles is to rest. Make sure to get lots of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and try not to overwork the affected muscle. Using heat pads or ice packs on the muscle can provide immediate relief.
What is good for muscle pain? ›- Rest and elevate the painful area.
- Alternate between ice packs to reduce inflammation and heat to improve blood flow.
- Soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts or take a warm shower.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen).