How to effectively treat muscle strain

How can muscle strain be treated more effectively? I believe that when faced with this kind of problem, many people hope to understand it. If a strain occurs, it is recommended to relax the muscles or apply ice to the muscles first, and pay attention to bandaging the local area.

1. Relax your muscles. When a muscle strain occurs, the activity that caused the strain should be stopped immediately. A muscle strain is actually a break in muscle fibers, so if you continue to exercise after a muscle strain, the tear will become larger and larger, eventually causing serious injury. Pain is a signal to rest. If you strain a muscle while running or doing other exercises, the severe pain may force you to stop and take a breath. In fact, the wisest thing to do at this time is to rest completely and stop exercising. After you strain a muscle, you need to rest for a few days before you can do the same exercise again.

2. Apply ice to your muscles. Applying ice can help reduce swelling and relieve pain. Find a larger food bag, fill it with ice cubes, and then wrap it in a thin towel to prevent your skin from coming into direct contact with the ice and getting hurt. Apply an ice pack to the sore area for 20 minutes a few times a day and the swelling will slowly go away. Frozen bags of peas or other vegetables can also be used as ice packs. Avoid applying heat, as it is ineffective in reducing the redness and swelling caused by a strain.

3. Bandage the sprained area. Bandaging the strain will reduce redness and swelling and prevent further damage. Get a bandage and wrap it around the strained muscle in your arm or thigh. But the bandage should not be too tight, otherwise it will hinder blood circulation. If you don't have cloth bandages at home, you can also cut old pillowcases into strips and use them as bandages.

4. Take painkillers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, relieve pain, allowing you to move more freely. Of course, the medication must be taken according to the prescribed dosage. In addition, children should not take aspirin.