Muscle Strains Treated in Magnolia & Vintage Park, TX
Muscles throughout your body are secured to bones by tough bands of tissue called tendons. When muscles contract, they shorten, pull on the attached bones, and allow your body to move. Strains develop when muscle fibers become overstretched or torn. Acute muscle strains can occur suddenly during a single event, such as a bout of heavy lifting. Chronic muscle strains develop gradually from repetitive stress that occurs when a muscle is used to perform the same motion over and over, such as running.
What Does a Muscle Strain Feel Like?
You can strain a muscle just about anywhere in your body. Common injury sites include the neck, shoulders, hands, low back, thighs, and calves. Sometimes, acute muscle strains cause a distinct “popping” sensation when the injury occurs. Depending on its severity, a muscle strain may also cause varying degrees of:
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Bruising
- Weakness
- Cramps or spasms
Mild muscle strains usually heal on their own within a few weeks, but a more severe injury may require treatment.
What Does Muscle Strain Treatment Involve?
If you experience numbness or unbearable pain around an injured muscle, you should seek professional medical attention right away. Otherwise, you can safely begin your muscle strain treatment at home by following the standard “PRICE” protocol, which involves:
- Protecting your injured muscle to help prevent further damage
- Resting and avoiding activities that cause or worsen the pain
- Applying ice to the injury site for 20 minutes at a time as needed to reduce painful swelling
- Compressing the injured muscle by applying gentle, steady pressure or wrapping it in an elastic bandage
- Elevating your injured limb above your heart
If necessary, you can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, according to the instructions on the label.
If you’ve injured a muscle and would like to have it evaluated by an experienced medical provider, you are welcome to visit Medella Urgent Care in Magnolia or Vintage Park, Texas. If needed to rule out a fracture, we can perform an X-ray on site. You can stop by our walk-in clinic at your convenience, request a telemedicine consultation online, or contact us to learn more about our services and the treatment options we offer for muscle strains.
