Pulled Muscle

Muscle strains, pulls or tears are damage to the muscle or it’s attaching tendon. Healthy muscles can withstand many of our day to day activities, however sudden movements, playing sports or lifting heavy objects are a few examples of how undue pressure can be placed on the tissues and cause damage.

Potential causes of muscle pulls include overloading the muscle or joint, impact from contact sports, overtraining, fatigue, weakness, structural or biomechanical issues, poor muscle coordination, inadequate warm-up or previous injury.

There are varying degrees of muscle strains, from mild (a few fibres) to severe (most fibres or complete tear). Once the muscle sustains such an injury, the body’s natural response is to lay down thick, fibrous scar tissue to help protect the area. As the scar tissue builds up, it actually slows down or even stops fresh blood from reaching the injured area, in turn slowing down the healing process and potentially causing more harm to the tissues. This is why some muscle strains take a long time to heal or sometimes don’t heal at all.

Common Symptoms

  • Swelling, bruising or tenderness
  • Pain at rest
  • Pain while moving the affected muscle or joint related to it
  • Weakness of the muscle or inability to use it at all

It is important to know that most cases are very treatable and respond well to alternative therapy. Active release techniques and cold laser therapy are extremely effective at healing these muscle injuries quickly.

Common Muscle Injuries

Pulled Back Muscle

A sudden movement, repetitive strain or lifting a heavy object can place undue tension on the back, straining the muscles and/or ligaments. Being physically unfit, having poor muscle control or muscular imbalances can make one more susceptible to back strains. This injury can occur in sedentary and active individuals.

Pulled Groin Muscle

Injury to the adductor muscles of the inner thigh. This condition is caused by overstretching the adductor muscles during activities with ballistic movements (ie. kicking, sprinting, jumping) such as in hockey, soccer, skiing, dancing, gymnastics, sprinting, and speed skating.

Pulled Hamstring Muscle

Injury to one or more of the hamstrings, a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh that allow you to bend your knee. Can be caused by direct trauma to the area or from overstretching during activities such as running, sprinting, jumping or stopping/starting.

Pulled Calf Muscle

Injury to one or both of the two major muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) on the back of the lower leg that make up the calf. These muscles are responsible for pointing the foot and are prone to injury during activities such as jumping, running and sprinting. More serious cases of calf strains can lead to Achilles tendon problems.
Cold Laser Therapy for Pulled Muscles

Cold Laser Therapy Pulled Muscle Treatment: Step 1

Cold Laser Therapy Pulled Muscle Treatment: Step 2

Cold Laser Therapy Pulled Muscle Treatment: Step 3

Regenerates Muscle Tissue:
Transfers light energy to the affected cells of muscle, regenerating and strengthening damaged muscle tissue to prevent future injury.

Decreases Inflammation:
Speeds up the body's natural inflammation phase and induces the repair phase of healing.

Removes Internal Scar Tissue:
Inhibits and removes Internal Scar Tissue that naturally forms after an injury and can cause discomfort and a delay in healing.

Nerve Regeneration:
Helps damaged nerves to recover by growing the neural network and repairing vital insulation around the nerve.

Stimulates Blood Flow:
Increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients required for healing of the affected cells.

Visit our Cold Laser Therapy Page to learn more about how the treatment works.