Muscles are an integral part of our musculoskeletal system and our daily routine for most of us. They support balance, movement, breathing, circulation, and so much more. When our muscles are pushed to extraordinary limits, they can become damaged or strained, leading to discomfort that hinders their important function.
A common injury that occurs within our muscles is a muscle strain. However, with the right care, you can find fast, safe relief as you promote the healing of the tissue.
This post goes over:
- What a muscle strain is
- How you get a muscle strain
- Tips to prevent muscle strain
- How to effectively treat muscle strains
- Chiropractic for muscle strain treatment
If your muscles are underperforming or unable to function correctly, read on to learn about muscle strains and what you can do about them.
What is a Muscle Strain?
When a muscle or a soft tissue that connects muscle to bone is pulled or strained to an extent that it stretches unnaturally or tears, the result is a muscle strain.
Symptoms of a muscle strain commonly include:
- Sudden muscle pain that varies in severity
- Muscle spasms and cramping
- Weakness of the affected muscle
- Pain that worsens as the muscle is in use
- Inability to use the muscle
- Swelling and tenderness
These symptoms typically occur in the lower back or hamstrings but can happen throughout the body as well.
Reasons you may experience a muscle strain include:
- Improper warm-ups before physical activity
- Forcing too much effort from the muscle
- Poor flexibility
- Poor training
- Overexerting the muscles
- Muscle fatigue
- Too much physical activity or overuse
How to Help Prevent a Muscle Strain & What to Do If You Have One
If your job or lifestyle demands repetitive and regular muscle use of targeted muscles, there are many ways to improve upon your habits so you can help prevent muscle strain.
Tips to help avoid muscle strain:
- Adhere to daily stretching
- Warm up before and cool down after exercise
- Be sure to stay hydrated
- Lift correctly
- Learn and use good posture
- Always use the correct equipment for physical jobs or when working out
- Give overused muscle rest
- Get plenty of quality sleep so your muscles can recover
- Don’t push through pain; listen to your body and stop when your muscles have had enough
If you’re already suffering from a muscle strain, try these safe, chiropractor-approved solutions:
- Ice, compress, and elevate the injured muscle to reduce swelling and inflammation
- Gently stretch and massage the muscle to nurture healthy circulation and movement
- Put heat on the muscle to encourage relaxation in tense muscles and tissues
Chiropractic to Safely Treat Muscle Strain in Boca Raton
The chiropractic solutions we offer in our Boca Raton chiropractic clinic can get your muscles healed, functioning, and performing as they should. Our care team works with patients of all ages and lifestyles, getting them strong and healthy so they can get back to the activities they enjoy pain-free.
Let us learn about your pain points, provide a comprehensive physical exam, and design the optimal treatment for you and your needs and goals.
The chiropractic solutions we offer to help relieve and heal muscle strain include:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Active Release Technique (ART)
- Graston Technique
- Massage therapy
- Laser therapy
- And others
When you work with us, you get much more than in-clinic treatments, but also guidance on everything from posture to exercise to movement patterns and more. We know you don’t want to live with pain, and you don’t have to. Get lasting results and the tools to keep your body safe.
Contact our Boca Raton chiropractic clinic to relieve your muscle strain symptoms at the source; let’s get you healthy and active and living life to the fullest.
