Whether you tried to lift something a bit too heavy or practiced poor form in the gym, you’ll more than likely experience a pulled muscle at some point in your life. Muscle strain occurs when we overstretch or tear a muscle and is most common in the lower back, shoulder, hamstring, and neck. Often, a muscle strain will heal in a few weeks to a few months, depending on the extent of the damage. During that time, the pain can be incredibly uncomfortable. To make the recovery process more bearable, consider implementing these tips for reducing pain from muscle strain.
To minimize your pain and the time it takes for your injury to recover, an ample amount of rest is essential. As such, you should avoid using the strained muscle as much as possible. Even if the muscle starts to feel better, it may still be weak. As such, avoid resuming putting stress on the area until it heals fully. Doing so will help prevent re-injury and unnecessary pain.
A relaxing way to decrease the pain from your muscle strain is to take an Epsom salt bath. Epson salt is known for its ability to reduce muscle pain and even speed up the healing process of muscle strains. Such beneficial properties are due to the magnesium and sulfate in the salt, which breaks down in the hot water and soaks into the skin, relaxing the muscles and reducing swelling. Adding around a cup or two of Epsom salt to your bath could be a nice way to de-stress and mitigate your pain.
Another tip for reducing pain from muscle strain is to consider using CBD oil. CBD oil is a versatile product with many different uses and applications, one of which is the alleviation of pain. By decreasing inflammation and interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, CBD oil can alleviate a diverse range of pains—including pain from muscle strain. Depending on your preferences, you can take CBD oil orally or simply rub it directly on the injured area.