Can a Chiropractor Help With a Pulled Muscle?

Can a chiropractor help with a pulled muscle? Many think chiropractic care is just spinal adjustments for misaligned vertebrae, headaches, or neck pain. However, chiropractors can also help with pulled muscles. If you’re an athlete dealing with muscle pain, it’s essential to understand how a chiropractor can assist with your injury.

What is a Pulled Muscle?

A pulled muscle, or a muscle strain, occurs when a muscle or its connecting tendon gets torn. It can happen if you overuse the muscle or stretch it too far during sports, work tasks, or heavy lifting. Excessive stretching leads to small tears in the muscle fibers and tendons, causing significant pain. Signs of a pulled muscle include:

• Swelling, redness, or bruising
• Tenderness and weakness in the muscle
• Pain, even when resting
• Pain when using the injured muscle
• Difficulty moving or using the muscle

If you experience these symptoms, seeking appropriate treatment is essential for recovery.

How to Prevent Pulled Muscles

While athletes are at a higher risk for muscle strains, everyone must be aware of activities that could lead to muscle injuries. To help prevent pulled muscles, consider these tips:

• Warm Up: Always warm up before exercising or playing sports to prepare your muscles for activity.
• Stretch Regularly: Stretch in the morning, after exercise, and before bed to keep your muscles flexible.
• Increase Workout Intensity Gradually: Build up the intensity of your workouts slowly to avoid overloading your muscles too quickly.
• Use Proper Lifting Techniques: Lift objects correctly to avoid straining your muscles.
• Maintain Good Posture: Sit and stand properly to support your muscles and joints.
• Keep a Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy body weight helps prevent extra muscle stress, especially in your legs and back.

These methods can reduce your chances of muscle strains and keep your muscles healthy and strong.

Chiropractic Care and Other Ways to Treat Pulled Muscles

With the proper treatment, most people fully recover from pulled muscles. Healing typically takes four to six weeks for mild back strains, while moderate leg strains may need eight to ten weeks. Start with at-home care, and if you don’t feel better within 24 to 48 hours, reach out to a chiropractor.

At-Home Remedies:

Begin with the RICE method—Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It means avoiding the activity that caused the strain, applying ice to the muscle for 20 minutes several times a day, gently wrapping the area with an elastic bandage, and keeping the injured muscle elevated on a pillow. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can also help reduce swelling.

Chiropractic Care:

Chiropractors can adjust soft tissue to boost blood flow to the injured area, easing pain and speeding up healing. They can also change your joints to ensure your body is aligned correctly and ready for future activities.

Massage:

Both self-massage and professional massage therapy can aid in recovery. By improving blood flow and stimulating the injured muscle, massage helps increase your range of motion, reduce pain, and prevent further injury.

Experience Comprehensive Wellness at Precise Chiropractic & Rehabilitation

At Precise Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, Dr. Hands provides a full range of advanced healthcare treatments, including chiropractic care and massage therapy. We aim to help you lead an active, pain-free life without relying on medications or surgery. Contact us today at (410) 370-0600 to book a free consultation at our Crofton, MD location.

We look forward to helping you achieve your wellness goals!