How long to strains last

As your muscle strain recovers, you have to then move onto harder exercises and also increase the complexity of the program so that it properly prepares the muscle for the work it will have to do when you play your sport. One of the features of our Exakt Health App is that it guides you through this process. It uses the same functional tests that a physiotherapist would use to decide when your muscle is ready to progress to the next level of strength training or restart your sport.

More severe strains involving mostly the muscles tissue can take 8 to 12 weeks before you can get to full sports. If the tendon is involved your healing time will likely be more than 4 months.

We understand. Finding convenient and reliable help for injuries online can be a tedious and demoralising process. The Exakt Health App provides a convenient, intuitive and science-based injury rehab experience for runners. All treatment advice is based on trusted medical evidence and reviewed by licenced sports physiotherapists, with each rehabilitation plan tailored to your unique grade of injury and phase of healing.

Download the Exakt Health App and start your recovery now. Check our help guide for more info. Download the App! Maryke Louw. How long does a pulled muscle take to heal? Wondering how long your pulled muscle will take to heal? March 17, Table of content. What are muscles made of? Skeletal muscle structure - wikimedia. What happens when you pull or strain a muscle? How does the body heal a muscle strain? The body follows a 3 stage process when it repairs a torn muscle or tendon.

Duration: The inflammatory stage takes about 3 to 5 days to complete. Aim: To create new cells to replace the damaged ones. How do you know which stage of healing your injury is in? The Exakt App adjusts your plan according to your feedback. So how long will your pulled muscle take to heal? Download the App. Broughton, G. Wound healing: an overview. Plast Reconstr Surg, 7 Suppl , 32e-S.

Macdonald, B. Paoloni, J. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in sports medicine: guidelines for practical but sensible use. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43 11 , Injury treatment doesn't have to be complicated - your body just needs the right combination of rest and exercise to allow it to heal. I love all sports but much prefer to exercise outside and off-road. Share on facebook. Share on linkedin. An injury that has been present for at least three months is often referred to as a chronic soft tissue injury.

Joints are stabilised by a joint capsule and supported by tough bands of connective tissue called ligaments. The entire joint is enclosed inside a membrane filled with lubricating synovial fluid, which helps to nourish the joint and provide extra cushioning against impact. A sprain is an injury that involves tearing of the ligaments or joint capsule or both.

Common sites for sprains include the thumb, ankle and knee. Muscles are anchored to joints with connective tissue called tendons.

Injury to these tendons or the muscles themselves is called a strain. Common sites for strains include the calf, groin and hamstring. An overuse injury can affect anyone from athletes or those who play regular sport, to those who spend hours every day at a computer keyboard.

These injuries can result in pain during activity and possibly pain at rest. Contributing factors to overuse injuries include exercising too frequently without enough time for recovery, structural abnormalities and poor technique. Understanding the natural progression of the injury and adjusting any contributing factors is necessary in any treatment plan.

Overuse injuries can take time to rehabilitate properly, and require patience and commitment from clinician and patient to see improvement. Most soft tissue injuries take a few weeks to heal, depending on the severity of the sprain or strain, any subsequent injuries or issues such as weakness, stiffness, poor balance or function, and the general health of the person.

Severe injuries, where the tissue has completely ruptured, may need surgery to put the torn pieces back together. Surgically repaired grade III injuries will require significant treatment to regain strength and function. Whether you have surgery, or a period of immobilisation and physical therapy, as the treatment for a grade III injury, medium to long-term functional outcomes is similar for either treatment.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The abdominal muscles support the trunk, allow movement and hold organs in place by regulating internal abdominal pressure. The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment. Acromegaly is caused by an excess of growth hormone in adults, which causes the overgrowth of bones in the face, hands, feet and internal organs.

Exercise can prevent age-related changes to muscles, bones and joints and can reverse these changes too. Page last reviewed: 10 February Next review due: 10 February Sprains and strains. Check if you have a sprain or strain It's likely to be a sprain or strain if: you have pain, tenderness or weakness — often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg or back the injured area is swollen or bruised you cannot put weight on the injury or use it normally you have muscle spasms or cramping — where your muscles painfully tighten on their own Is it a sprain or a strain?

A table explaining the differences between strains and sprains. Sprains Strains Torn or twisted ligament tissue that connects the joints Overstretched or torn muscle also known as a pulled muscle Most common in: wrists, ankles, thumbs, knees Most common in: knees, feet, legs, back.

Find a pharmacy. Urgent advice: Get advice from now if:. Other ways to get help Go to an urgent treatment centre Urgent treatment centres are places you can go if you need to see someone now. They're also called walk-in centres or minor injuries units.

Find a physiotherapist.