You probably know that stretching and warming up before exercising is important, but do you know why? Physical exertion on cold, stiff muscles increases your risk of pulling a muscle, which is painful and can cause long-lasting discomfort.

Our AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah team provides further information on muscle strains below, so keep reading!

Why Is Stretching Important?

Stretching is one of the most underrated components of maintaining proper muscle health. It can be easy to jump into your daily exercise routine, but refusing to stretch can increase your risk of dealing with a painful muscle strain.

The benefits of stretching include improving your joint range of motion, improving your athletic performance, and last but certainly not least, decreasing your risk of injury. If you haven’t stretched and have experienced one of the below-mentioned symptoms when working out, you’ve likely pulled a muscle.

Symptoms of a Pulled Muscle

• Sudden onset of pain
• Soreness
• Limited range of movement
• Bruising or discoloration
• Swelling
• A “knotted-up” feeling
• Muscle spasms
• Stiffness
• Weakness

Can Pulled Muscles Be Severe?

They definitely can be. In a mild strain, your muscle may feel slightly stiff, but still flexible enough for use. A severe muscle strain, however, is when the muscle is completely torn, and it usually results in a lot of pain and very limited movement.

The symptoms of mild to moderate muscle strains usually go away within a few weeks, but more severe strains may take months to heal. If you aren’t sure whether or not you should seek medical attention for your pulled muscle, we’ve listed some signs that point to necessary medical care from our AFC team below.

When to Seek Medical Treatment

• The pain doesn’t subside after a week.
• The injured area is numb.
• There’s blood coming from your injury.
• You can’t walk.
• You can’t move your arms or legs.

Need medical care for your pulled muscle? Don’t wait to visit our AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah center today!