Should Strained Muscles Be Stretched?

Should you stretch a strained or pulled muscle? Like we mentioned above, the best thing to do for your pulled muscle is to rest it. Physical Therapist Lewis says “You would want to avoid stretching the muscle for a few days to allow the acute injury to begin to heal.

When should you stretch a strained muscle?

3 to 21 days after the injury: Start to slowly and regularly exercise your muscle. This will help it heal. If you feel pain, decrease how hard you are exercising. 1 to 6 weeks after the injury: Stretch the injured muscle.

How long does a strained muscle take to heal?

Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury. For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months. In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary.