What’s the best way to treat a muscle strain?
If you have never suffered a muscle strain, you may not realize how much pain and discomfort this can bring to your life. Fortunately, with the right approach to treatment, you can put this pain in the past and move on with your life.
If you neglect to treat a muscle strain, you’ll find it difficult to make a complete recovery. This is why it’s so important to learn more about your many treatment options.
Here are some of the best ways to treat a muscle strain:
– Rest. Simply put, you don’t want to put any weight on the strain for several days (if not longer). How much rest you require depends on the severity of the strain as well as the location.
– Ice. It’s important to ice the injured area several times per day, as this can ease both pain and swelling.
– Compression. Just the same as ice, this can help reduce swelling.
– Elevation. When you raise the injured area above your heart, it can keep fluid from reaching the area. As a result, swelling is less likely.
If you suffer a muscle strain, such as on the job, you should never assume that you know the extent of the injury or how to best treat it. Instead, you must seek immediate medical attention. You may find that you didn’t suffer a strain, but have instead torn a ligament or tendon.
Since this injury can put you on the shelf for an extended period of time, it may be time to learn more about making a workers’ compensation claim.
Source: Web MD, “Sprain vs. Strain: What’s the Difference?,” accessed April 07, 2017