Damage to muscle tissue is manifested by pain symptoms. Very often such problems arise in people who lead an active lifestyle.
These types of pain, as a rule, can disappear on their own after a few days. However, if the pain is intense, you need to know what to do when the muscles are stretched and how to prevent the discomfort from recurring.
Muscle strain causes
The following groups of reasons can contribute to the stretching of muscle fibers:
Technical reasons:
- sharp movements;
- lack of warm-up during sports;
- excess weight.
Physiological reasons:
- improper diet, which leads to low muscle elasticity;
- diseases of the skeletal system and injuries.
Stretching of muscle fibers can most often appear in people who play sports, including jogging.
Muscle strain symptoms
Depending on the muscle group that is being damaged, a person may experience unpleasant symptoms to varying degrees.
Stretching the leg muscles
When stretching muscle tissue, a person experiences the following unpleasant symptoms:
- pain while walking, aggravated by running;
- pronounced swelling at the site of muscle tissue damage;
- a person feels painful pulsations at the site of injury and an inflammatory process appears.
Pain symptoms are acute, an athlete cannot play sports during recovery.
Knee sprain
Muscle stretching occurs when knee injuries occur.
Most often, the following symptoms occur:
- knee pain is of great intensity;
- hypertonicity of muscle tissue;
- there is no way to fully extend and bend the knee;
- the athlete cannot fully stand on his foot.
The intensity of pain symptoms depends on the severity of the injury.
Stretching the calf muscle
The calf muscle tissue can be damaged at different rates, depending on the cause that contributed to the injury.
Symptoms can be of the following types:
- during the contraction of the fibers, a person feels acute pain, which can manifest itself even in a calm state;
- swelling;
- heat is felt at the site of damage.
In some cases, a hematoma appears at the sites of muscle damage.
Stretching the thigh muscles
The thigh muscles are much less likely to be damaged; a direct blow during exercise or physical exertion can contribute to this type of injury. Since a large number of muscles accumulate in the thigh, the recovery period can take up to 2 months.
The following symptoms may occur:
- sharp pain in the hip;
- a feeling of heaviness in the damaged muscle;
- fever and swelling.
Very often, stretching of the femoral muscle fibers can be felt in the lower back.
First aid for stretching muscles
With the formation of pain, it is very important to provide first aid in a timely manner, on which further treatment and the rehabilitation period will depend.
First aid consists of the following actions:
- the damaged area of the body must be motionless. It is necessary to use a bandage that will fix the muscles;
- if there is severe damage to muscle tissue, a splint is used;
- a cold compress must be applied to the place of damage;
- use anti-inflammatory ointments.
After first aid has been provided, it is necessary to assess the degree of damage, and, if necessary, consult a doctor.
What to do when stretching a muscle?
As with any injury, damage to muscle fibers requires treatment, which depends on the severity of the injury.
Drug therapy
For the complete restoration of the damaged area, it is necessary to carry out complex treatment.
The most commonly used types of drugs are:
- The use of external products that relieve puffiness and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
These drugs include:
- Diclofenac;
- Voltaren;
- Nurofen;
- DIP.
Such drugs have a temporary effect and allow the damaged area to return to mobility.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - used to reduce pain and muscle hypertension.
- Ibuprofen;
- Nise;
- Nurofen.
Can be used as an injection for quick impact. For complex injuries, it is recommended to use Tizanidine, which relaxes the fibers and reduces pain symptoms.
Massage
When stretching the muscles, massage is used to restore the damaged area.
The features of the massage are as follows:
- preparation of the damaged area by warming up the muscle;
- stroking and light massage of muscle fibers;
- spiral effect on a part of the body;
- definition of tense muscle and gradual development of the body area.
The use of massage allows you to increase blood circulation at the site of damage and activates the body's natural processes to regenerate tissues.
Warm compresses
The use of warm compresses should be alternated with cold ones, this effect reduces pain and increases blood circulation.
For treatment, the following sequence must be observed:
- cold compress for 10 minutes;
- warm compress (heating pad) for 15 minutes.
This procedure should be repeated for 45 minutes, once a day.
Ultrasound therapy
The procedure has a thermal effect on the damaged area. Ultrasound has a variable effect on muscle stretching, thereby increasing the recovery process.
The procedures also have analgesic effects and micro massage of soft tissues. The complex of procedures increases the supply of nutrients to the damaged area, and restores the mobility of ligaments and fibers.
Electronic stimulation
The principle of treatment is to alternate the supply of current in small pulses. Electronic stimulation restores muscle contractility and increases metabolic processes in tissues.
Thanks to the current, impulses are activated that enter the nervous system and improve the process of human motor functions. The procedures are carried out regularly throughout the entire treatment period.
Folk remedies
The use of alternative treatment methods allows you to reduce pain in a short time and return the motor function to the damaged area.
It is necessary to highlight the following methods:
- garlic and eucalyptus ointment. Used to reduce pain symptoms and swelling. For cooking, it is necessary to mix in equal proportions chopped eucalyptus leaves and garlic. The resulting composition is applied to the skin and fixed with a bandage. Duration of use up to 10 days;
- ointment using aloe. The aloe leaf is peeled from thorns and crushed with a blender. A tablespoon of honey is added and left for several hours. Ointment is applied before bedtime and fixed with a bandage;
- compress with milk. A piece of fabric must be moistened in warm milk and applied to the damaged area until the fabric cools. The procedure is repeated 5 times;
- garlic. Peel the head of garlic and pass it through a press, add a spoonful of lemon juice and apply to the damaged muscle. Wrap the top with a warm towel;
- clay. Mix clay with water until liquid. Moisten a piece of tissue and apply to the muscle. Wrap the top with plastic wrap. Leave it overnight.
The use of alternative methods of treatment can reduce discomfort with minor injuries, serious injuries must be treated in special institutions.
How to avoid muscle strain?
To reduce the risk of injury, the following prevention rules must be followed:
- regularly before starting sports activities, it is necessary to warm up. This process will prepare the muscle tissue for stress and reduce stress;
- not be subjected to excessive physical exertion;
- use comfortable shoes during class;
- do not make sudden movements;
- timely treat all diseases of the skeletal system;
- strengthen muscle tissue with massage and special training.
To reduce the likelihood of muscle tissue stretching, you must be able to determine the period when classes or physical activity stop. Otherwise, there is a risk of injury.
Stretching of muscle fibers is a very common problem for many athletes. To reduce discomfort, it is necessary to use ointments in a timely manner, which not only reduce pain, but also speed up the recovery process.
If external remedies are not effective, it is necessary to contact a medical institution to prescribe a more effective method of treatment. In the course of treatment, the athlete must refuse to exercise for a while and be in a state of complete rest.
