Only the most severely pulled, or strained, leg muscles require medical intervention. Arthoscopic surgery to repair torn muscle tissue or cortisone shots for pain relief are the available treatments for more serious injuries to the calf, thigh or joint areas. Most strains are moderate and are due to overuse or improper warm-up rather than traumatic damage. The pain and inflammation can be treated with self-treatments and rehabilitative exercise. Strains that are debilitating due to muscle weakness should be evaluated by a physician.
Rest
Stress on damaged leg muscles compounds the problem, so stopping the activity that caused the pulled muscle is a first aid treatment, as is getting off the legs, which must bear a majority of body weight. Rest offers pain relief as well. The NYU Langone Medical Center recommends elevating the leg while resting if a calf, knee or ankle muscle group is involved. If walking is painful, shortening the stride will reduce stress on the leg muscles.
Leg Protection
A compression bandage treatment provides support that helps to immobilize the pulled muscle group and bring down the swelling. Elastic thigh wraps, stabilizing boots and splints are recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Additional protection from stress on the muscles comes from walking aids such as canes or crutches.
Cold Pack/Hot Pack Therapy
Pulled leg muscles may involve large areas of muscle tissue with acute inflammation. Therapeutic cold pack applications, which can begin immediately after injury, are an efficient pain relief treatment. The University of Buffalo Sports Medicine clinic prescribes several "icing" periods a day for its athletes who experience leg strains. Reusable gel packs come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and make convenient compresses for inflamed leg muscles. They should be kept in the refrigerator and applied in 20-minute stints, up to three times a day, while resting. These can be alternated with heated gel packs once the initial inflammation subsides.
Pain Medication
The NIH notes that nonprescription analgesic drugs can provide continual pain relief between icing sessions. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen are effective medicinal treatments for strains.
Return to Exercise
While the pulled muscle tissue will repair itself if it is not damaged further, the area will need to be strengthened to restore it to fitness. Patients can gradually resume activity and practice range of motion exercises when the pain fades. The NIH reports that a course of physical therapy guided by a health care professional can best facilitate a speedy recovery.
