Muscle Strain Remedies

of medium entity, which may involve one or more skeletal muscles or part of them.

Shutterstock

It is more severe than a contracture (as it also has a blood effusion) and less severe than a tear (unlike the latter, it has no interruption of muscle continuity).

Caused by excessive stretching of muscle fibers, stretching is more likely in certain predisposing conditions (cold muscle, poor training level, uncontrolled or abrupt movement, postural or muscle or coordination imbalances, adverse environmental conditions, repeated microtrauma, unsuitable clothing , insufficient recovery / compensation, etc.).

The body has a specific defense mechanism against this type of trauma. It is called the stretch reflex. It consists in the instantaneous and immediate contraction of the affected muscle associated with the relaxation of the antagonist muscles. The impulse is generated by the mechanical stress of the neuromuscular spindles present in the stretched muscle. However, it is not always fast or effective enough to prevent tissue damage.

Muscle strain is a fairly common injury in sports and mainly affects the disciplines of: elastic strength, maximal strength, explosive strength, rapidity and speed.

The published material is intended to allow quick access to general advice, suggestions and remedies that doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of a Muscle Strain; such indications must in no way substitute the opinion of the attending physician or other health specialists in the sector who are treating the patient.

):

• Sharp and sudden pain.
• Muscle spasm and motor disability.

After the event, stop exercising.

Diagnose to identify the severity of the strain and rule out more severe injuries. It is advisable to go directly to the emergency room. The estimate is made by:

• Palpation and functional verification: it is necessary to immediately verify the extent of the damage and to exclude fractures, sprains, etc.
• Ultrasound-type medical imaging: it is more specific and provides detail on the extent and severity of muscle strain.

ATTENTION! Diagnosis is very important as certain aspects of treatment related to strain and tear are diametrically opposed to contracture.

• Application of the R.I.C.E. And "the" English acronym of the words rest (rest), ice (ice), compression (compression), elevation (elevation):
• Rest: a total of at least 2-3 weeks, not only from sport but from any motor activity that affects the affected area.
• Ice: in the form of compresses to be applied to the inflamed area.
• Compression: useful in the application of the pack and also in the form of a bandage.
• Elevation: If possible, the pulled muscle should be held above the level of the heart to facilitate venous return.
• Under medical prescription, take anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant drugs (see Pharmacological Treatments below).
• Adopt specific medical therapies (see below Medical Therapies).
• If necessary, practice self-stretching under the advice of the physiotherapist.

, or doing it in an inadequate way (insufficient, inappropriate).

Practice "cold" stretching before the activity, especially of the passive and forced type.

Practicing activities without an athletic base.

Engage in sports other than your own with excessive intensity.

Ignore the presence of pathologies or kinetic imbalances.

Subject the muscles to repeated trauma.

Insist on the activity even in the presence of obvious symptoms.

Do not consult your doctor for a certain diagnosis.

Do not apply the R.I.C.E .:

• Neglecting rest after the injury predisposing to relapses.
• Failure to comply with other specific medical therapies and precautions (see above).

Do not comply with the drug therapies prescribed by the doctor.

ATTENTION! Stretching in the treatment phase is an activity that can confer benefits or worsen the damage, depending on the specific case and the method.

. However, it may be helpful to increase the intake of anti-inflammatory nutrients:

• Omega 3: they are the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha linolenic acid (ALA). The first two are biologically very active and are mainly contained in: sardine, mackerel, bonito, alaccia, herring, alletterate, ventresca di tuna, garfish, seaweed, krill etc. The third, on the other hand, is less active but constitutes a precursor of EPA; it is mainly contained in the fat fraction of certain foods of plant origin or in the oils of: soy, linseed, kiwi seeds, seeds of grapes etc.
• Antioxidants:
• Vitamins: the antioxidant vitamins are carotenoids (provitamin A), vitamin C and vitamin E. Carotenoids are contained in vegetables and red or orange fruits (apricots, peppers, melons, peaches, carrots, squash, tomatoes, etc.); they are also present in crustaceans and milk. Vitamin C is typical of sour fruit and some vegetables (lemons, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, kiwis, peppers, parsley, chicory, lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, etc.). Vitamin E can be found in the lipid portion of many seeds and related oils (wheat germ, corn germ, sesame, etc.).
• Minerals: zinc and selenium. The first is mainly contained in: liver, meat, milk and derivatives, some bivalve molluscs (especially oysters). The second is mainly contained in: meat, fish products, egg yolk, milk and derivatives, enriched foods (potatoes, etc.).
• Polyphenols: simple phenols, flavonoids, tannins. They are very rich: vegetables (onion, garlic, citrus fruits, cherries, etc.), fruit and relative seeds (pomegranate, grapes, berries, etc.), wine, oil seeds, coffee, tea, cocoa, legumes and whole grains, etc.

: ethyl alcohol exerts a diuretic action and interferes with the pharmacological metabolism, reducing the effect of the active ingredients.

Excess of omega 6 fatty acids or wrong omega 3 / omega 6 ratio (to the advantage of the latter). They could have a pro-inflammatory effect. It is good practice to limit the introduction of foods rich in linoleic, gamma-linolenic, diomo-gamma-linolenic and arachidonic acids, such as: seed oil (especially peanuts), most dried fruit, certain legumes, etc. At the same time it is necessary to increase the intake of omega 3 (see above What to Eat).

: reduces blood flow, limiting any blood spillage.

Bandages: useful in preventing swelling.

Elevation: necessary to facilitate venous return.

drugs are rarely used. On the contrary, they represent a widely used solution for stretches and tears.
Your doctor may advise you to take:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): for systemic or topical use (ointment, gel or cream):
• For systemic use - tablets and suppositories:
• Ibuprofen (e.g. Arfen®, Moment®, Brufen®, Nurofen®)
• Diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren®).
• Naproxene (e.g. Aleve®, Naprosyn®, Prexan®, Naprius®).
• For topical use - creams, ointments and gels:
• Ibuprofen 10% lysine salt (e.g. Dolorfast®).
• Ketoprofen 2.5% (e.g. Fastum gel®, Ketoprofen ALM®, Steofen®).
• Diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren®).
• Muscle relaxants: they relax the skeletal and smooth muscles. They can be for oral (systemic), parenteral (injection) and topical (ointment, gel or cream) use. They exert their activity through a mechanism of action that involves the antagonism of the GABA-A receptor. The most used in stretches are those that act on the central nervous system:
• Suxamethonium chloride (e.g. Myotenlis®).
• Thiocolchicoside (e.g. Muscoril®, Miotens®).

adequate, especially in the muscles more prone to strain injuries; can be very useful:

• Technical clothing in the winter months.
• Specific ointments.

Carry out warm-up and activation (or "approach") with the aim of:

• Increase the temperature of all the muscles used in the athletic gesture.
• "Stretching" the tissues of the structures recruited in the athletic gesture (muscle bundles, sheaths, etc.).
• ATTENTION! Stretching can be beneficial or harmful depending on the time, type and intensity. It is advisable to always perform it hot, not immediately after strength exercises and / or muscle exhaustion and without straining or bouncing.

Identify your training level and contextualize your performance (don't overdo it).

Recover and supercompensate adequately.

Correct or cure any diseases of the joints and muscles.

For those who run, carefully evaluate the terrain.

, progressive load, etc.), which allow optimal progress with therapy and resumption of activity.

Tecar therapy: it is a therapeutic method that uses an electric capacitor to treat joint muscle injuries. The mechanism of tecar therapy is based on the restoration of the electrical charge in the injured cells to make them regenerate more quickly.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Tens): it is an "antalgic electrotherapy that acts above all against pain. It sends electrical impulses to the skin through electroconductive plates. These block the nerve signals of pain and stimulate the production of endorphins."

Ultrasound: this system uses high frequency acoustic waves.It is very useful as an anti-inflammatory, stimulant of edematous reabsorption and to dissolve the adhesions that form during healing. It produces heat and increases the permeability of cell membranes.

Magnetotherapy: takes advantage of the effects of the magnetic field on the body. It is applied by means of two solenoids directly on the muscle. It exerts a force on ferromagnetic, paramagnetic materials and diamagnetic molecules. That at high and low frequency produces benefits if the treatment is prolonged enough; the effectiveness of the static one is not scientifically proven. Its effects on cells, inflammation, inflammation, etc. are different. It can reduce healing times by up to 50% but the effectiveness varies according to the damage.

Laser therapy: it is a treatment that uses the rays applied directly to the affected area. The electron beam from the laser acts on the cell membrane and mitochondria, increasing metabolic activity, reducing pain and inflammation, creating vasodilation and increasing lymphatic drainage.

Kinesio taping: it is more suitable for contractures and mild strains. This system exploits the traction of adhesive and elastic bandages, sometimes containing small pharmacological concentrations. They should have a draining, slightly pain-relieving-anti-inflammatory and bracing function.

Iontophoresis: It is a form of needle-free injection. It allows a drug (in this case anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant) to cross the epidermis thanks to the application of a direct current.