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The treatment of muscle stretching can be performed at home with simple measures such as rest, use of ice and use of compressive bandage. However, in the most severe cases it may be necessary to use medication and undergo physical therapy for a few weeks.
Muscle stretching is when the muscle stretches too much, during a physical activity, and for that reason it can happen in the gym, in a race or football, for example. This injury causes pain and limited movement, and can be classified into 3 different degrees, according to its severity. Learn more about muscle stretching.
1. Home treatment
The home treatment consists of resting the affected region, so it is important to avoid demanding too much of the muscles and joints and, therefore, it is not recommended to go to the gym and perform training, while there is no improvement of the condition, however it is not necessary to rest completely. , and routine activities, work, and school can be maintained.
In addition, in the first 48 hours of muscle stretching, or even when swelling is seen, crushed ice or a frozen gel pouch can be placed on top of the lesion for 15-20 minutes, 3-4 times a day. . After 48 hours or when deflating, if there has been no improvement, you can place a warm compress on the spot, leaving it to act for about 20 minutes.
If the area is still swollen after the first 48 hours, as an alternative to the hot compress, an elastic bandage can be placed on the spot, which helps to reduce the swelling.
2. Drainage
Drainage can be interesting when the area is swollen or when the area is purple. Thus, an option is lymphatic drainage, which can be done at home by sliding a fine comb over the lesion. If the pain and swelling is closer to the groin, the comb should be slid in that direction, while if it is closer to the knee, the comb should be slid towards the knee.
Another option is postural drainage, which consists of raising the leg, which helps to deflate. In addition, you can also do a massage on the spot with creams or ointments containing camphor and menthol, for example, which help to relieve symptoms and fight swelling.
3. Use of medicines
The use of medicines is indicated by the orthopedist when the symptoms of the thigh muscle stretch are persistent or when it is verified that there was a muscle break. In these cases, the doctor may recommend the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or injecting corticosteroids in some cases.
4. Exercises
Performing some exercises can help recovery, it may be indicated to contract the muscle and then relax about 10 to 20 times, always slowly and without causing pain. In addition, it is recommended to stretch the muscle slightly, stretching the affected muscle a little bit, without causing pain, for a few seconds, and you can perform this stretching several times throughout the day. Check out some examples of leg stretches
5. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is indicated in the most serious situations when there is a rupture of the muscle, and some exercises are performed in the sessions that help in muscle recovery. During physiotherapy sessions, other techniques can also be performed, such as electrotherapy, ultrasound, which can be done with gel or medication, laser or TENS, for example.
The physiotherapist must personally indicate the treatment protocol that will be carried out during the treatment after the investigation, because this is just an example of what can be done and can be changed, as needed.
Check out these and other tips for treating thigh muscle strain by watching the following video: