How to Repair a Torn Muscle
When a muscle is torn, the body repairs the tear with scar tissue. This usually happens within the first 48 hours or so after the injury occurs. Scar tissue is not flexible like the surrounding muscle and soft tissues, and it can cause a weak area. This can make it easier to re-injure the same area repeatedly. The scar tissue is weaker and more brittle than the tissue that it has replaced. To promote healing and to minimize any permanent weakness in the area, you should take steps to encourage adequate blood supply to the area.
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Instructions
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Minimize activity with the torn muscle for 72 hours.
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Start some light activity after 72 hours. It's important not to re-injure the torn or strained area, but if you rest it too long, it can become even weaker and more brittle. Light activity can be a good part of rehabilitation of the muscle, and it encourages blood flow to the area, activating the lymphatic system. This helps to clean toxins and other wastes out of the body, which may have accumulated after an injury.
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Pay attention to any sharp pain you might feel. If any activity you do makes the area hurt, stop doing it immediately.
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Use ultrasound, heat therapy and massage to increase blood flow to the injured area. Increasing blood flow to the torn area helps to ensure that the muscle has plenty of oxygen and other nutrients, which will help it to heal. Otherwise, it may get stiff and form a lot of scar tissue, making it weaker and losing flexibility in the area. Increased blood supply helps the muscle to heal faster and to heal better, without too much stiff and brittle scar tissue.
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Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping properly hydrated also helps to remove toxins from the body.
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Tips & Warnings
You may experience some soreness and discomfort. This is normal following an injury, but severe pain should be avoided as a sign that you are overdoing it and should back off a bit.
You may want to use your muscle to speed up the rehabilitation process and to regain strength, but you should be gentle on it and stop whenever you feel severe pain. This is your body's way of telling you that you may be causing more damage.
If you have a serious injury, you should always consult a doctor. Severe muscle tears may require surgery, depending on where the tear is and how badly it is torn. Some tears can be effectively healed without any medical intervention, but it is always best to take care of the tear and seek some medical advice if you are worried about the healing process.
