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As more and more people are including physical activity in their healthier lifestyles, more people are at risk of developing pulled muscles. From high school athletes to older persons who incorporate exercise routines into their daily schedules, many people experience this problem. If your pulled muscle does not seem to be extremely serious, nor resulting in unbearable pain, you can try some easy treatments at home instead of going to the doctor. Home treatments for a pulled muscle may be all you need to recover and get back on your feet again.

If you pull a muscle, the first thing you should do is apply ice. An ice bag made of fabric, and constructed to resist leaking, is an excellent product for this purpose. If you do not own one, using a secure plastic bag filled with crushed ice will also work. Applying ice to a pulled muscle is rarely comfortable. However, the ice will reduce the amount of swelling in the area that has been strained.

As long as you do not have any health contraindications or allergy, you can use aspirin. The reason why aspirin is generally preferred over non-aspirin substitutes is because aspirin is an anti-inflammatory medication. It will prevent inflammation from occurring, which also serves to lessen the pain of a pulled muscle. However, as aspirin is not recommended for children and adolescents, you should request a physician's advice for medication if the person who has experienced the pulled muscle is a child or a teen.

When the swelling has been reduced and is no longer an issue, applying heat will continue to relieve the pain. A basic heating pad is a good option. You will be much more comfortable while your pulled muscle is healing. If you do not own one, a warm bath can be helpful.

As it is possible for a pulled muscle to result in bleeding, it is advised that you keep the affected area immobile. In most cases, plenty of rest and avoiding the use of the affected part is all that is needed.

In order to achieve complete recovery from a pulled muscle, it must be strengthened and stretched. While it is important to not attempt this immediately, it is equally important to not avoid it. It is the best way to get the pulled muscle and your body in general back into peak condition. Depending upon its severity, you may wish to ask your doctor for advice about the types of moderate exercise you should begin. Although regaining the strength in the muscle is necessary, you should resist the urge to overdo exercising. It will not speed up the process, and may even cause complications.

While many instances of pulled muscles can be treated at home, and complete recovery achieved without difficulty, some instances should prompt medical assistance. If the injury is severe, or if the injury is to a small child, these are examples of needing help from a doctor. A visit to your local Emergency Room can help to prevent unnecessary complications, and hasten the process of recovery.