Staying active is important for your overall health. Incorporating moderate exercise into your schedule on a routine basis can help you maintain good cardiovascular strength, build and maintain your muscles, and supplement healthy joints. It can also decrease your risk for diseases related to obesity. Sometimes injuries happen unexpectedly while being active. Pulled muscles are very common injuries that can be painful and take time to heal. Learn more about treating and preventing pulled muscles. For same-day injury diagnosis and treatment near Bedford, MA, visit AFC Urgent Care Bedford. We are open 7 days a week and accept walk-in patients.
What is a Pulled Muscle?
Our bodies are made up of a complex muscle system. Our muscles allow us to move our bodies by supporting our bones and joints. However, when you suffer a muscle injury it can have a significant impact on your overall movement and inhibit your ability to move in certain ways.
Pulled muscles are a very common injury. They occur when your muscle fibers tear in a significant way, damaging the integrity of the affected muscle. Our muscles are made up of little fibers that are woven together to allow us to flex and move. Small muscle tears are common and are actually the reason why after a good workout you may feel sore. However, significantly tearing your muscle fibers by overdoing it and staining your body too much in one place can cause a serious injury.
Tips for Preventing a Pulled Muscle
Pulled muscles can be incredibly painful. Luckily, they are completely preventable with some simple tips and tricks. The best way to avoid a pulled muscle is to work on strengthening your muscles and getting to know your body's limits. Pulled muscles can happen for a variety of reasons, however, simply pushing yourself too hard is a very common cause of a pulled muscle. If you’re someone who enjoys working their body hard, it is vital that you spend time stretching to avoid muscle injuries. This will warm up your muscle fibers, allowing them to flex and move more easily with less of a risk of them tearing. Stretching before and after your workout can greatly reduce the risk of pulling a muscle. Finally, staying hydrated is vital to muscle health and recovery.
How to Heal a Pulled Muscle
Pulled muscles are a very common injury. Typically, the pain is immediate and can be severe. The legs are a very common place to experience a pulled muscle, however, they can happen anywhere on your body. Pulled muscles may twitch or throb, and it may be difficult to move the affected area.
Pulled muscles usually can heal on their own over time with rest. It is important to allow your body enough time to repair itself before resuming normal activities. If you suspect you have pulled a muscle, you should seek medical care for proper diagnosis. It can be difficult to differentiate a pulled muscle from a more serious injury that requires medical treatment.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Bedford for Same-Day Sports Injury Diagnosis & Treatment
If you have suffered a sports injury like a pulled muscle, it is important to seek medical care for a proper diagnosis. At AFC Urgent Care Bedford, our board-certified medical providers offer same-day care for sports injuries, 7 days a week. Simply walk into our clinic for prompt medical care. Our clinic is equipped with a digital X-ray suite, allowing us to accurately diagnose your injury and provide the necessary treatment. We never require that schedule an appointment, simply walk into the clinic. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer competitive rates for patients without insurance.
