How To Speed Up Your Muscle Injury Recovery

10 November 2023

A muscle injury of any type can be extremely painful, weaken the body, and make it difficult to proceed with your daily activities. Muscle injuries include a pulled muscle or muscle strain and can occur for various reasons. Speeding muscle recovery time is crucial to carrying on with your life without pain.

Muscle injuries can limit the muscle’s movement, not only in that muscle but in surrounding ones attached via tendons and aponeurosis. Arteries, veins, and nerves penetrate the epimysium (connective tissue sheath surrounding the muscle). When a muscle is damaged, nerve impulses are sent to the brain, signaling pain. Blood flow can be compromised in severe muscle damage, and blood loss into the surrounding tissue can cause a bruise or hematoma.

Skeletal muscles also need signals (impulses) from the nerve cell to contract the muscle fiber. When an injured muscle cuts off these nerve impulses, the muscle cannot perform. In bodybuilding, muscle injury is what builds stronger, larger muscles as new cells fill in the tears. However, extreme damage can lead to serious issues.

How Does A Muscle Injury Happen?

A muscle strain can occur in various ways, each causing a different set of problems. Fatigue will not result in the same pain and damage that extreme exercise can cause.

Any strain on a muscle can reduce motion and cause pain. Minor and moderate injuries are easily treated at home. However, more severe damage (diagnosed as grade 3), such as rotator cuff tears, Achilles ruptures, or hamstring ruptures, might require surgery.

Muscle injury can occur in three different areas: within the muscle, at the connection between the muscle and tendon (most frequent), or in the tendon that attaches the muscle to the bone.

Muscle strains and injuries can happen to anyone. While athletes are more likely to experience these injuries, the general population is also at risk. Acute strains can occur while walking if you lose your footing or slip, throw an item, lift something heavy, jump, run, or lift something improperly.

Muscle injuries include:

Strains: these contraction-induced injuries occur most often when muscles work across multiple joints during rapid acceleration and deceleration more than the tensile forces the muscle fibers can withstand
Contusions: caused by compressive force to the muscle, such as in contact sports collisions that lead to muscle damage with bleeding resulting in a bruise
Lacerations: most often occur due to injuries, such as industrial or traumatic accidents that cut the muscle

Here are some of the most common causes of muscle injury:

Poor Conditioning

Engaging in physical activity when the muscles have not been adequately conditioned can increase the risk of injury.

Improper Exercises

Doing extreme, high-intensity exercises or those your body is not used to can cause exercise-induced muscle damage. The ensuing trauma can lead to inflammation, swelling, increased passive tension, decreased muscle strength, soreness, reduced range of motion, and problems with insulin sensitivity as the muscles are involved in glucose uptake.

Fatigue

Overexertion of the muscle can lead to muscle fatigue, weakening it and making it more susceptible to injury.

Improper Warmup

Working the muscles without preparing them through proper warmup exercises and stretches can cause muscle injury. Lack of flexibility can increase the risk of injury as the muscle fibers are tighter than they should be.

Overuse

Repetitive tasks can cause micro-trauma to the muscles. For example, someone on the computer all day doing repetitive movements with the keys or the mouse may experience muscle pain in the inner elbow or wrist.

Injury

Whether caused by sports or trauma, an injury can result in mild to severe damage to the muscle. Bruising is a sign of bleeding, and while minor bruises are not dangerous, some forms of hematomas can be life-threatening in the case of serious injuries, including when fractures or internal organ damage is present.

Poor Posture

Sitting or standing in the wrong position for a long time can strain the muscles. Muscle strains are more common in the neck, back, shoulders, and hamstrings.

What Can You Do For Muscle Injury?

The treatment you need depends on the severity of the muscle strain. Muscle injury is categorized into three grades as follows:

Grade 1: mild damage to less than 5% of individual muscle fibers, causing minimal loss of motion and strength.
Grade 2: more muscle fibers are affected with increased damage, yet no complete ruptures. The injury can cause significant loss of motion and strength and may take two to three months to heal.
Grade 3: complete muscle or tendon rupture that may require surgery to reattach the damaged tissue.

The tips below can help you speed up recovery from a muscle injury:

Rest

Injured muscles need time to heal, and that means letting them rest. An injured muscle is more vulnerable to further damage, so avoid activities that can further increase the strain.

Sleep

Getting adequate sleep is crucial to muscle recovery, as that is the time when growth hormone and insulin growth factor 1 promote cellular regeneration and tissue repair. Anything less than 7 hours reduces recovery efforts inside the body.

Hydrate

Hydrated muscles heal better than dehydrated ones. Along with water, increasing intake of fruit and vegetables provides additional fluids along with crucial vitamins and minerals the body needs for muscle repair.

Compression

Compression wrapping of the affected area supports and reduces swelling in the injured area. Do not make the compress too tight, which can cut off circulation.

Elevate

Raising the injured muscle above heart level decreases blood flow to the area, helping to reduce swelling. The sooner you can do that, the better it is to speed healing.

Ice

Applying ice packs to an injured muscle immediately can help reduce swelling and pain. Focus on doing it for 15 minutes every hour for the first two to three days (longer if necessary).

HGH Therapy

It has been clinically proven that HGH not only boosts muscle development but also enhances muscle repair and recovery. Find out what is the HGH cost in the US and whether HGH therapy is right for you.

Manual Therapy

Physical therapy targets the damaged muscle to improve circulation, increase mobility, decrease swelling, reduce pain, and promote healing.

Heat

After icing for three days, apply heat a few times daily to restore blood circulation to the area for healing.

Pain Management

There are many ways to manage pain, including over-the-counter medications, prescription painkillers (which can lead to addiction if used long-term), supportive braces, and getting help from a pain management specialist, if needed.

Increase Protein Consumption

Muscles need protein, and eating more protein, along with taking collagen or whey powder supplements, provides the muscles with nutrients to speed the healing process.

Consume Tart Cherry Juice

Studies have shown some benefits of tart cherry juice for reducing inflammation, soreness, and damage to the muscles.

Switch To Low-Impact Exercise During Injury Recovery

Strength and flexibility exercises can help improve strength and range of motion while speeding muscle recovery. A physical therapist can help determine the appropriate exercises for your condition.

Surgery

Serious injuries may require surgical intervention to improve healing. Seek medical help for severe muscle injuries.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

PRP injections may accelerate muscle tissue regeneration in the damaged area.

Conclusion

Muscle injuries can cause significant pain, bruising, swelling, decreased range of motion, and loss of strength. The pain can be sudden, sporadic, stabbing, achy, ongoing, or combined.

As the muscle heals, stem cells around the injured area regenerate new muscle fibers, and scar tissue forms around the area. Torn muscle tissue may never fully regenerate, making it susceptible to future muscle strains.

Trying the RICE method of rest, ice, compression, and elevation is always the best step to take immediately. A newer recommendation is the PEACE approach, which has you protect the area from further injury by reducing use, elevating to decrease swelling, avoiding anti-inflammatory treatments (ice and NSAIDs) to allow inflammation for healing, compressing the area with a bandage, and educating yourself about the recovery period.

Protecting the muscles from injury is crucial, and giving strained muscles time to heal can reduce the risk of further damage. Seek medical attention if the pain and weakness are ongoing or severe.

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Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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Tips For Calling In Sick To Work

We’ve all had times when we’re under the weather and have to call in sick from your office. However, after such a tough 18 months or so due to a global pandemic, economic and political uncertainty, civil unrest, and more, many of us face more physical and mental illnesses leading to the need for time off work and calling in sick from the duty. If you worry about what consequences could arise for calling in sick or how to do so in the most appropriate manner, here are tips to follow next time you need to have that conversation with your boss. 5 Tips For Calling In Sick From Your Work Your message(s) may need to communicate urgent work information, too. You may need to let people know how to handle a time-sensitive matter or how to locate documents or other information. Giving the team the necessary data will show you respect your responsibilities and the needs of the company Here are five tips for calling in sick from your work: 1. Know What You Can Take a Sick Day For It’s helpful if you’re clear about what you can feasibly take a sick day for within your company. Ideally, read up on your firm’s policies regarding this matter before you end up unwell. In general, though, people are advised to avoid going to work if they could be contagious. Bad migraines, flu, food poisoning, and the like are also things it’s valid to stay home for. Also, some employers have policies regarding calling in sick family members that mean staff members can take days off if they need to be at home to look after unwell children, parents, etc. Check the HR policies for your company to see if there’s a formal policy in place around this topic. you may go through: How to Increase the Safety of Your Employees 2. Understand the Procedure to Follow You should know how to calling in sick in a way that’s effective for your employer. Understand the procedures put in place so you can go straight to the right person and communicate the necessary things in the desired way. Some firms need employees to contact the human resources department or submit a form online, while others, especially smaller ventures, will have unwell team members call their direct supervisor or the business owner. The contact method depends on the company and the person you need to inform about your condition. Often people expect a phone call, but some managers who are on email often and get distracted by calls prefer short email communications or even text messages. Plus, some companies also have intranet setups where you can advise if you're sick online. If there aren’t any hard and fast rules in your company, consider how, when, and where people work and what communication method might suit best. Generally, though, a phone call tends to be your best option if you’re unsure. 3. Don’t Delay To Inform Businesses need to know ASAP that employees can’t come in. They need to redirect resources and make plans for how else tasks may get completed that day. As such, don’t delay when informing your organization of your health complaints. Make contact as soon as you’re able, though do wait until a reasonable hour in the morning, so you don’t wake people. The more notice you give your manager and colleagues, the easier it will be for them to cope without you, and the less likely it is that they get annoyed about your absence. You may go through: Can an Employee Claim for a Personal Injury When Working From Home? 4. Be Concise And Clear When letting people know you’re sick, be concise and clear. Don’t feel like you have to waffle on justifying your calling in sick, as excessive explanations make it seem like you’re faking the illness. Be brief and direct, and keep the language and tone of messages professional. Provide enough details to explain you can’t come in and, if you know, how long you might be off work. Convey urgency but also keep your privacy where you want. You do not have to give your employee detailed information about what’s wrong with you. 5. Consider Paperwork Depending on your organization’s policies, you may need to submit some documentation to your boss or an HR manager upon your return to work. Many companies require employees to obtain evidence of their calling in sick, especially when people need to take many days off in a row. You may need to contact a health practitioner for an urgent care doctor’s note that indicates your health condition, how long you’ll be absent, and if you require any work changes (such as shorter hours or altered equipment) when you’re back. You might need to show your employer a police report if you were in a car or other type of accident or a hospital or clinic admission report for surgery. Conclusion: None of us like feeling under the weather or having to let our supervisors know we’re unable to work. However, if you go about calling in sick in a responsible manner, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about and can concentrate on getting well, instead. Read Also: 5 Ways to Get a Better Work-Life Balance for Remote Employees 7 Ways to Boost Employee Productivity and Create a Positive Culture Understanding How Employee Recognition Can Aid Your Consulting Firm

Some Famous People Who Have Battled with Depression

If you have ever wondered if celebrities and all the successful people you know ever had to deal with stress and all the negativity “normal people” struggle with daily? The truth is they also do. They suffer pain, loss, and depression, just like everyone else. It’s possible you have heard of celebrities with depression or who even suffered from mental breakdowns; they had to be checked into rehab. But this article isn’t about famous people who have visited rehab before but those who have one time dealt with depression. So without wasting time, below are some of the celebrities you know who have suffered depression in their lives. Dwayne Johnson Now, if you think ‘’The Rock” is one stone-cold machismo character, well, he is when he is on screen. But when the 6ft 4inches tall celebrity is off-screen, he certainly has a lot to contend with like everyone else. In a recent talk with British newspaper Express, he opened up to being depressed, and the dude didn’t have any serious reasons for being so, aside from being human. And he encouraged guys specially to do better than bottle everything in. “Depression Never Discriminate.” He shared later on his tweeter page. Katy Perry American female pop sensation Katy Perry has also revealed on time on a live stream tour on YouTube about how she too fights depression and is never ashamed to say so. She urged her fans to keep it real with themselves and everyone watching the need to take mental health seriously. Lady Gaga With many hit songs and billboard toppers to her name, one wouldn’t be surprised that her royal highness Lady Gaga would have had to weather through stormy days. And if there is anything to learn from the celebrity is that we can rise above our challenges. She opened up about how she uses medication to battle depression and anxiety and advised her fans to be open about their health. You can find out here what you should do when you are faced with a nervous breakdown. Michael Phelps If you have won a series of gold medals for competitive swimming, you would surely know how to recover from any drowning situation. But it will interest you to discover that the world record swimmer Michael Phelps almost ended his life sometime after the 2012 Olympics. And if there is anything we’ve found out from successful people is that success comes at a price. So Phelps had to sober up and get the help he needed. So if you want to conquer depression, you want to pay the price and get the right help. J.K Rowling It is no surprise that celebrity author of the Harry Potter Books, J.K Rowling, would appear on the list of celebrities who have battled depression. For someone who has put smiles on the faces of millions could only have done so by sacrificing a bit of theirs. And for J.K, it wasn’t that she was sad, as she described it on Oprah, “it’s that cold absence of feeling.” Jim Carrey The only man crazy enough to pull off the stunts in ‘’The Mask.” And also stared in some of the funniest character movies of all time, Ace Ventura comes to mind is also on the list of celebrities who have suffered from depression. And what’s interesting about Carrey’s situation is that he doesn’t use medication such as anti-depressants or alcohol to help deal with life's issues. He faces them squarely and urges you to do so too. There are useful tips on this page https://www.verywellmind.com/overcoming-addiction-4157285 about fighting addiction. Johnny Depp Actor Johnny Depp could be one of Hollywood’s most anxious celebrities, and it is no secret that he works with therapists even while on movie sets to help manage his anxiety. Although he does a fine job with his character while on stage, he easily shows his anxiety during interview sessions. Eminem Another famous celebrity on the list is Eminem, and it is no secret that the rapper has had to battle with a lot of challenging situations. One of them is the unending conflict with his ex-wife, which the artist often rapped about in some of his verses. Depression can affect your health negatively and should not be taken likely. You want to look out for signs that you may be in a depressive state and seek expert help if you are too deep. Read Also: Are You Wondering About The Risk Factors For Depression? 6 Healthy Habits That Will Change Your Life Natural and Practical Methods of Tackling Insomnia

Overcoming Procrastination And Achieving Success With A Life Coach

Procrastination is a widespread issue that can lead to increased stress, missed opportunities, and a decline in overall well-being. However, a life coach can help individuals overcome this issue and realize their potential. Often, procrastinators feel overwhelmed or indecisive when they encounter their long-held goals. The human brain is designed to process concrete ideas, making it challenging to start work promising future advantages. A life coach can help them recognize that procrastination is a natural response to fears of failure, perfectionism, and commitment. In the long run, procrastination can cost you heavily. It leads to missed opportunities and hinders positive life changes. However, a life coach can help you live a more fulfilling life by recognizing the reality behind procrastination. We shall dive deeper into the effects and psychological reasons behind procrastination and how a life coach can help you overcome it. What Is Procrastination? Procrastination is delaying or postponing tasks, which can often lead to negative consequences. It's a common tendency that most people resort to at some point in their lives. According to psychologist Joseph Ferrari, approximately 20% of U.S. adults are chronic procrastinators. Even the most well-organized and committed individuals can spend hours on trivial pursuits instead of work or school-related projects. This issue can affect job performance, grades, and, ultimately, one's quality of life. However, it's essential to note that procrastination is not a serious issue but rather a common tendency. Therefore, it's not a sign of a serious problem but rather a natural human tendency that most people experience. Psychological Implications Of Procrastination Procrastination is an outcome of deep-seated psychological issues. Given below are some of the psychological reasons why one tends to procrastinate— 1. Boredom If a task appears dull or unappealing, you will procrastinate and delay its completion until later. 2. Lack Of Belief When we tend to put off tasks, it could be due to a lack of confidence in our abilities. This is a vital component of our daily functioning. When our self-efficacy is low, it can impede us from initiating or finishing tasks. 3. Anxiety And Fear Procrastination can be caused by fear. We might delay important things like medical checkups or finishing projects due to social anxiety and fear of judgment. Managing our fears is vital to avoid negative consequences and stay on track with our responsibilities. 4. Distraction Social media and other distractions can hinder our ability to focus. Procrastination has always been challenging for humans, and technology has made it even more difficult. Overcoming distractions requires awareness and self-control. 5. Obsessing Over Perfection Striving for perfection can occasionally result in unproductive delays. Therefore, individuals hold off on tasks they fear they may not excel at or may fail. They may postpone tasks until they feel motivated or develop a superior idea. How Do Life Coaches Help You Overcome Procrastination? Given below are the different approaches implemented by life coaches to help clients overcome the problem of procrastination— 1. Creating A SMART Framework Creating a SMART framework is one approach life coaches use to help clients overcome procrastination. This involves setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. By breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps and setting clear deadlines, clients are more likely to take action and avoid procrastination. Therefore, providing a structured plan helps you stay focused and motivated. 2. Using The Eisenhower Matrix Another approach employed by life coaches to address procrastination is utilizing the Eisenhower Matrix. It's a fantastic tool that can help you prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. By categorizing your tasks into different quadrants, you can manage your time efficiently and focus on what really matters. Let me tell you more about it! By prioritizing tasks effectively, you can identify which ones need immediate attention, reducing the tendency to procrastinate. Therefore, it encourages you to tackle important tasks first and delegate or eliminate less important ones, increasing productivity and decreasing procrastination. 3. Using The Pomodoro Technique The Pomodoro Technique is a method that involves breaking tasks into manageable intervals. These intervals are typically 25 minutes, called "pomodoros," followed by a short break. By working in focused bursts and rewarding oneself with breaks, you can maintain motivation and overcome the urge to procrastinate. Therefore, it helps you stay on track and complete tasks more efficiently, ultimately reducing the likelihood of procrastination. 4. Implementing The 5-Second Rule The 5-Second Rule involves taking immediate action within 5 seconds of having an impulse to do something. Furthermore, this technique can combat procrastination by training the brain to act quickly and prevent overthinking or hesitation. By implementing the 5-Second Rule, you can overcome the tendency to delay tasks and instead take immediate action. Therefore, it increases productivity and reduces procrastination. 5. Using Visualization Visualization is a powerful tool that can help combat procrastination. By imagining yourself completing a task or goal, you can increase motivation and reduce the likelihood of putting off tasks. Visualizing the desired outcome can create a sense of urgency and focus. Therefore, it makes it easier to stay on track and complete tasks efficiently. Incorporating visualization techniques into daily routines can help you overcome procrastination and increase productivity. 6. Helping With Positive Affirmation Positive affirmation is another effective strategy for reducing procrastination. Here, you must repeat positive statements to yourself, such as— "I am capable of completing tasks on time." "I can stay focused and productive." Therefore, it helps you boost your self-confidence and encourage a proactive mindset. This practice helps to counteract negative thoughts or self-doubt that often contribute to procrastination. Moreover, You can cultivate a more optimistic and determined attitude toward the work by consistently using positive affirmations. Therefore, it leads to increased motivation and a greater likelihood of completing tasks promptly. Find The Right Life Coach! Working with a life coach can be immensely beneficial for people who struggle with procrastination. Lif coaches help you set clear goals and provide support, guidance, and strategies to address underlying issues. Moreover, they help you empower and overcome procrastination to lead a more fulfilling life. Celebrating accomplishments and recognizing progress can also boost confidence. It reinforces positive behaviors, reducing the likelihood of falling back into old patterns. A life coach can help individuals cultivate essential skills and offer accountability. Therefore, it makes it easier for them to control their time and unleash their true potential. Partnering with an efficient life coach could be the first step if you want to make lasting positive changes. Read Also: Make Your Vacation Less Stressful With the Following Tricks 5 Ways College Students Can Minimize Back to School Stress Releasing Stress Even if You Don’t Leave Home