Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Treat A Pulled Leg Muscle

While pulled leg muscles are typically not considered to be major medical problems they can lead to a good amount of discomfort. Thankfully there are some practical processes that can be followed to help ease the discomfort of a pulled leg muscle while treating the overall effects of the pulled region.


Instructions








1. Rest. Simply removing weight off the leg and only moving the affected area when necessary will allow the muscle to heal more quickly. With that being said the area should not be immobilized as that can lead to more problems. Do not overuse the leg to the point of pain.


2. Apply an ice pack to the area. This helps reduce the swelling and bleeding to the injured area. Ice applications should last no longer than 15 minutes at a time throughout the day as pain persists.


3. Take an anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen. If you would prefer a stronger medication, consult your doctor. Anti-inflammatories help reduce muscle swelling which causes much of the pain you feel during a pulled muscle's rebuilding stages.


4. Follow the "RICE" method. This means "Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation." Basically you need to rest the muscle, apply ice to the injure area, use compressions such as an elastic band around the injured muscle and then elevate the muscle above your heart level to help reduce blood levels and therefore swelling.

Tags: help reduce