Developing a muscle injury is rarely cause for alarm, but it is often uncomfortable and inconvenient. Such an injury may make your muscle weak and unable to function normally. This can seriously affect your daily routine -- not only your ability to exercise, but also your ability to work. Muscle injuries can be rehabilitated at home if the injury is minor, but more serious developments might require a visit to the doctor.
Injury Type
The most common type of muscle injury is a muscle strain. A strain results from tearing in the muscle tissues and can range from minor soreness to a partial or complete tear of the muscle. Sprains are similar to strains, but they occur in tendons. This connective tissue is fused to muscles, so sprains can often cause pain in them. Bruises and injury-induced exhaustion are other exercise-related injuries, although these conditions almost never require rehabilitation.
Short-Term Treatment
The best short-term approach to rehabilitating a muscle is to follow the RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Do not exercise with the injured muscle and avoid using it when possible. Apply ice to the muscle for 20 minutes a session, several times a day, to relieve pain, inflammation and swelling. Apply compression, if possible, to further reduce swelling, and elevate the muscle so that blood flow is not as strong to the muscle. Adhere to this process for a few days and look for signs of improvement.
Long-Term Rehabilitation
If the muscle fails to heal on its own, or if it requires surgery to reattach it in the case of a tear, physical therapy may be required. This rehabilitation process will help you heal and strengthen the muscle. It can take weeks and sometimes months of regular therapy to prove effective on your muscle. Physical therapy combines stretching with strengthening workouts and other exercises designed to restore the injured muscle to its original form.
Considerations
Although your symptoms may be consistent with the symptoms of other muscle injuries, it is possible you have suffered an injury that is being mistaken for damage to the muscle. For example, ligaments and tendons can both develop injuries leading to inflammation and tenderness under the skin, and this can be confused with muscle injuries. To be sure of the cause, consult a doctor or physical therapist for a diagnosis.
