A pulled muscle, depending on which part of the body it is located, can be painfully irritating or completely debilitating. Finding relief for a pulled muscle can make an enormous difference in restoring your daily routine. Before we look at 15 home remedies for relieving a pulled muscle, let’s consider their causes.
Pulled muscles occur when muscles are suddenly and unexpectedly torn. They are often a result of muscle fatigue, overuse or improper use. They most often occur when muscles are cold and stiff. Some of the ways that muscles are pulled include:
Pulled muscles can occur anywhere in the body, but are most common to the neck, shoulder, arm, lower back and hamstring muscles. A pulled muscle can also be the result of a repetitive movement or from poor posture.
These home remedies can relieve a pulled muscle, but they are not all inclusive. In cases where a pulled muscle has become too severe for you to function normally, you might need to consult a health care professional.
Pain from an injury, like a pulled muscle, is not something that you bear with gritted teeth. Resting your muscles from repetitive movements or stress is one of the first steps in relief.
What to do:
How it works:When you decrease stress, you decrease the inflammation and pain. Additionally, you avoid the risk an injury that is more serious.
To prevent a pulled muscle, it is best to warm up and stretch, but it is equally important to avoid allowing pulled muscles to become too stiff after an injury.
What to do:
How it works:Motionless muscles become stiff and more painful. By gently moving and stretching the affected muscles, you can enhance circulation and healing.
One of our best friends for treating a pulled muscle is ice.
What to do:
How it works:The most well known method of reducing inflammation and pain is the use of ice, which slows the histamine responsible for inflammation.
Black strap molasses seems like a rather odd choice for relieving a pulled muscle, but it does help.
What to do:
How it works:Black strap molasses is high in calcium and potassium. Both of these minerals help maintain and encourage healing of bones, joints and muscles.
Apple cider vinegar is something of a wonder when it comes to home remedies and it is easily added to a list for pulled muscle relief.
What to do:
How it works:Pain and inflammation are reduced via the alkalizing properties of apple cider vinegar.
Clove oil is another home remedy for relieving a muscle pull.
What to do:
How it works:Clove oil has powerful anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce pain and swelling.
Garlic is a powerful household item that is found in every kitchen. Believe it or not, it can help bring relief to a pulled muscle.
What to do:
How it works:Garlic has natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory compounds that help relieve pain and swelling as well.
Another common ingredient, which is found in most kitchens and is great for pulled muscle relief, is cayenne pepper.
What to do:
How it works:The soothing relief that comes from the capsaicin in cayenne pepper is its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties going to work on your sore muscles.
This remedy might seem a little bit odd, but it has actual research from Oregon University Health Sciences division to back up its effectiveness in bringing relief to a pulled muscle.
What to do:
How it works:Tart cherries are abundant in anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants which help speed the healing of a pulled muscle.
Coconut oil can be used in two different ways when it comes to bringing relief to a pulled muscle.
What to do:
How it works:The vitamin E and lauric and capric acids in coconut oil are antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory in nature.
You can bring relief to a pulled muscle through massage as well.
What to do:
How it works:Massage helps promote blood circulation in the injured area, which slows inflammation, reduces pain and promotes healing.
Another great remedy for soothing the pain and inflammation of a pulled muscle is Epsom salt.
What to do:
How it works:Epsom salt contains a high concentration of magnesium, which is a natural muscle relaxant. Additionally, the salt draws out excess fluids in the tissue surrounding the affected area to reduce swelling.
No list of pulled muscle relief would be complete without the tasty addition of pineapple.
What to do:
How it works:Pineapples contain an easily absorbed enzyme, which helps reduce inflammation and pain, called bromelain.
Ginger’s first cousin and a powerful remedy found in most kitchens, turmeric, is a great alternative to prescription or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs.
What to do:
How it works:The anti-inflammatory and pain relieving compounds found in turmeric are equally effective as ibuprofen according to scientific research.
Scientific research has found that vitamin C in highly effective at aiding all sorts of bodily functions, bringing relief to a pulled muscle is just one of them.
What to do:
How it works:Vitamin C boosts the production of collagen in the bloodstream. Collagen helps in the repair of tissues and blood vessels, which increase your body’s ability to heal from a pulled muscle.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I sat up and felt a pain so sharp in my shoulder that it hurt to even slightly move it. I recalled all the physical activity I took part in the day before, but could not think of anything out of the ordinary that would cause such a pain. Over the next few days, I was forced to rest. There is no other option. As you can see in this article, resting is one of the best things you can do for a pulled muscle.
But do you want to know what the craziest part of all this was? I did not even realize I had pulled the muscle until months later at the doctor. They symptoms of pulled muscles are sometimes hard to pinpoint, and we can easily mistake the pain for other ailments, or be terrified that they lead to something much worse!
This is an obvious one. Get to the doctor! Don’t be like me and struggle in pain without any solutions or help. In actuality, going to the doctor is good because they can do tests to tell if there is worse damage than just the sprain, such as tearing. Sometimes people even need casts for sprains, so don’t take this lightly! If you are not one to run to the doctor after you get hurt, that is understandable. But if you find that the pain is not going away, it’s time to get it checked out!
It is a normal assumption that if you are not moving your painful limb, it will not be in pain. But this is not true with a pulled muscle! It is very likely that it will indeed hurt when it is not in motion. This is not a good sign at all, and can be a very hard thing to cope with because it is difficult to rest when you cannot find relief, even in resting.
Any of these symptoms are great indicators. They point to a bigger problem, one that is calling out to be noticed and taken care of.
Pulling a muscle can be a good sign that you have overused and overworked muscles. When you pull it in this case, it is almost like the muscle has given out. Pay attention to weakness in the area, as it may be the only sign. This is not fatigue you’re going to want to push through!
One of the biggest indicators of a pulled muscle is not being able to use it! When it gives you, it may end up just not “working” at all. This is a sad thing, but it may be exactly what you need to stop pushing you body to its limits when it cannot go any further! Remember, pain is a signal that points to something bigger that needs to be tended to.
A pulled muscle can be painfully irritating or completely debilitating, depending upon where it’s located. To get the quickest relief, avoid further injury and get back to your regular routine without pain, follow any one or combination of these 15 remedies. If you have others or can testify to the benefits of those on this list, please comment below.
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