Recovering from a Pulled Muscle: Effective Healing Strategies

A pulled muscle occurs when the muscle fiber is torn. Pulled muscles generally occur when a person has not properly warmed up before a workout, pushes too hard or accidentally twists the wrong way. The two most commonly pulled muscles are the back and hamstring. Here are some tips to help heal a pulled muscle.

Things You'll Need

• Ice
• Heating pad

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply ice to the pulled muscle to help with swelling and pain. The National Institute of Health recommends applying ice every hour for 10 to 15 minutes for the first day, then every three to four hours after that.

• 2

  Alternate between heat and ice therapy three days after the injury.

• 3

  Rest the pulled muscle for at least one day. Avoid activity until it is no longer painful, then start back gradually.

• 4

  Keep the muscle elevated as much as possible above heart level to decrease swelling.