Pulled back muscles can cause discomfort and extreme pain. They can result from strenuous exercise or rigorous labor. Since your back muscles are used in almost any movement you make, the most simple daily tasks may become painful. For this reason, it is important that these muscles heal quickly when injured.
Rest
Rest is the most important treatment for a pulled back muscle. The rest time needed depends on the severity of the pulled muscle. In most cases, two or three days is plenty of time. It is important that you do not get too much rest, as this can slow down the recovery time.
Ice
Apply an ice bag as soon as possible after you pull a back muscle. It is most effective when done for ten minutes at a time, once every hour. If the ice is too cold against your skin, you can place a towel between your skin and the ice bag.
Heat
Apply heat to the muscle the day after it is pulled. Alternate between ice and heat, applying heat one hour and ice the next hour. Leave the heat on your back for ten to fifteen minutes. If you do not have a heating pad, you can warm up a wet washcloth in the microwave.
Gentle Stretching
Stretching is a useful treatment for a pulled back muscle. It is important not to stretch too much as this could cause more damage. If you experience intense pain while stretching, you have done too much. Start out stretching for two to three minutes every hour, then slowly increase the time until the muscle is healed.
Medicine
Take anti-inflammatory medicine such as Ibuprofen immediately after you pull a back muscle. This will help reduce inflammation as well as ease the pain. Take one pill every six hours. If you have bad reactions to Ibuprofen, consult a doctor to see what he recommends.
Tags: back muscle, after pull, after pull back, back muscles, every hour