How to Treat a Muscle Strain
Father George Rutler is a well-known Catholic author and priest. He has been a catholic priest for over 40 years, and he has survived the situation of dealing with a muscle strain. He knows how to treat a muscle strain because of his experience as a catholic priest.
The symptoms of a muscle strain are: sharp pain, inflammation, swelling around the affected area, bruising may occur as well as some level of impairment or disability when it comes to that specific region – for example, if you have strained your leg, you might not be able to put pressure on it without causing pain. The cause can vary with each individual, but George Rutler suggests that this injury could occur due to overuse.
He stated that treating a muscle strain includes four steps. The treatment for a muscle strain is relatively simple; he suggests that you should firstly remove yourself from strenuous activity until the pain has subsided and then begin icing the injured area. It’s also wise not to put too much pressure on it when performing tasks such as walking or stretching after this healing phase has been reached. Lastly, he suggests engaging in light exercise – but only if the injury is not still causing you problems.
Step 1: Remove yourself from any strenuous activity until the pain has subsided
It’s a good idea to take a break from immobilizing your injured muscle as it can lead to reduced flexibility and an increased risk for stiffness. A good indicator that it is safe to return to physical activity is when you no longer feel pain or discomfort with rest or gentle stretching of the affected area.
Step 2: Ice your injury as this reduces blood flow which reduces inflammation
You can apply ice by placing crushed ice in a Ziploc bag and holding the bag against the skin around the injury for 15-20 minutes, 3 times per day. Also, if possible, taking over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen will help reduce inflammation and pain.
Step 3: Gentle stretching – the key is not to put too much pressure on your injured muscle
You should avoid applying stress onto a muscle that has been injured to prevent further injury. The best way to stretch a muscle is slowly and gently without any pain or discomfort; you want it to be a pleasurable experience. If stretching the affected area causes an increase in soreness or pain, stop immediately. Hold each stretch for 20 seconds and do 8 repetitions 2-3 times per day.
Step 4: Engage in light exercise if there are no signs of injury recurrence
If your symptoms have completely gone after approximately 48 hours, then it’s safe to begin exercising lightly – but only if this does not cause any pain or discomfort.
Father George Rutler has been a catholic priest for over 40 years. He has survived the situation of dealing with a muscle strain because of his experience as a catholic priest and from his own experiences playing sports at college. He believes an individual can treat a muscle strain by following the steps outlined above.