Muscle Strain Treatment in Laredo, TX
Bones throughout your body are attached to muscles, which contract and cause the bones to move, allowing you to walk, run, speak, and chew. What is a muscle strain, and when does this injury require treatment? A strain occurs when the fibers of a muscle are overstretched, sometimes to the point of tearing.
You can strain a muscle in your neck, shoulder, hand, low back, thigh, calf, or just about anywhere else in your body. The injury can happen suddenly; for example, you might feel a muscle “pop” while you are lifting a heavy object. A muscle strain can also develop gradually if you regularly engage in an activity that involves repetitive movements, such as running.
How Do You Know if You Have a Muscle Strain?
Depending on the severity of the injury, a muscle strain may cause:
- Muscle pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness
- Skin redness and bruising
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle cramps and spasms
A mild-to-moderate muscle strain may heal on its own within a few weeks, but a more severe muscle strain may require professional medical treatment.
What Does Muscle Strain Treatment Involve?
If your pain is unbearable or you experience numbness or tingling sensations in your injured muscle, you should seek professional medical attention right away. Otherwise, you can begin your muscle strain treatment at home with traditional “PRICE” therapy, which involves:
- Protection of your injured muscle to prevent further damage
- Rest to avoid movements and activities that cause pain
- Ice applications for 20 minutes at a time to reduce painful swelling as needed
- Compression of your injured muscle with an elastic bandage
- Elevation of your injured limb above heart level
Additionally, you can take an over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen as needed for pain relief.
If you would like to see a medical provider for muscle strain treatment, you are welcome to visit VitalMed Urgent Care in Laredo, Texas. Stop by at your convenience or contact us to learn more about our urgent care services.
