We all have experienced the discomfort caused by pulled muscles, whether during playing sports or performing daily life activities. A pulled muscle is not only extremely painful, but it also limits your mobility until you are completely healed. That's why everyone wants to recover from it as soon as possible.
A massage gun is often used to treat muscle-related problems such as soreness and spasms. You may be wondering, "is a massage gun also useful in treating pulled muscles?" Keep reading to learn the answer to this question and more about pulled muscles.
What are pulled muscles?
A pulled muscle, also known as muscle strain, is a painful condition that occurs when your muscles overstretch or tear. This stretching or tearing can be caused by an accident, extreme use of a muscle, or inappropriately using a muscle. They are very common in sports and exercise, as the use of muscles is extreme in such activities. However, sometimes they can happen during normal life activities like lifting something heavy or bending the wrong way.
Any muscle in your body can be pulled or torn. The most affected areas are the lower back, neck, shoulder, and hamstring. Muscle strains are uncomfortable and can limit the mobility of the affected area. Mild to moderate strains can recover on their own or with the use of at-home treatment. Severe strains may require medical attention.
What are the causes of pulled muscles?
Muscle strain can happen if...
- Muscles are not flexible enough
- Muscles are not warmed up enough before doing physical activity
- Muscles are fatigued and overexerted
- Sometimes, muscle strains can even happen by just walking
If muscle pulls happen suddenly without warning, they are called acute muscle strains. They are usually caused by injuries, trauma, or accident. Chronic muscle strains usually occur from repetitive movements like playing sports or poor posture.
What are the symptoms of pulled muscles?
Muscle strains or pulled muscles may cause many uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- Bruising, redness, or swelling of the affected muscles
- Muscle cramps and soreness
- Weakness and stiffness of the affected muscles
- Limited mobility of the affected muscle
- Muscle pain, even in the resting condition
The symptoms of mild to moderate muscle strains usually disappear within a few weeks. However, a month of healing may be required for severe strains.
Is massage helpful for pulled muscles?
The answer is yes. Massage can be helpful for pulled muscles as it helps increase blood circulation and speed up the healing process. However, it is important not to apply direct force to the affected area. Just try to manipulate the surrounding tissues. A professional therapist is the best person to give a safe manual massage for pulled muscles.
It is recommended to first consult with a doctor before using any massage therapy. If your doctor gives you a go-head for massage, don't rush to your massage gun and starting massage on your own. Instead, you should hire a professional massage therapist with skills and knowledge on how to massage your muscles without any further harm to your injury.
Can I use a massage gun for pulled muscles?
No, the use of a massage gun for pulled muscles is not recommended. A massage gun is undoubtedly a very helpful tool for relaxing sore and tired muscles. However, there are certain conditions for which they should not be used. A pulled muscle is one of them. The application of a massage gun or any type of direct force on the strained muscles can causes pain, cause more damage, and prolong healing time. In the worst scenario, the use of a massage gun can lead to calcification and bleeding of the pulled muscles. If you want to use massage for muscle strains, it should only be done by a professional massage therapist.
All Zarifa USA products are HSA and FSA eligible. This means you can contribute your health savings funds towards the purchase of any of our products!
