Thats becauseexercising creates microscopic tears in your tissuethat, once they heal, make your muscles stronger and bigger.
In those cases, it’s possible for you to sayhelloto a pulled muscle.
And a pulled muscle will feel different than your run-of-the-mill post-workout soreness, adds physical therapistDr.
Stocksy
RICE stands forrest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Deblauw recommends resting the injured muscle by avoiding heavy exercise or activities that cause discomfort.
Compress the affected muscle with an elastic wrap to keep inflammation to a minimum.
Finally, elevate the injured area to decrease swelling.
you’ve got the option to even do double duty and elevate while you ice, says Deblauw.
He also recommends keeping an eye on how youre feeling.
If thats the case, then taking ibuprofen wont cut itits time to see the doctor.
A Massage Might Be Just What the Doctor Ordered
Theres nothing better than a prescription for amassage.
Deblauw suggests a professional orself-massage, which can helploosen your muscles and promote healing in the area.
Some lightfoam rollingcould likewise help, though if it causes any pain, stop, says Glick.
Bonus points for relaxation as you tend to your pulled muscle.
That said, If you feel any pain while you stretch, scale back and let your muscle rest.
Stretching could also helpprevent future muscle strain, according to research published in the journalSports Medicine.
Avoid things that increase pain for more than a few minutes after performance or cause sharp pain during.
You do not want to aggressively stretch a strain muscle, as that is essentially what caused the injury.
