How Moms Can Recover Quicker From a Muscle Injury

Muscle Injuries can happen at any time. This is especially true if you are a mom on the go with a busy schedule. Whether they are sports related or repetitive motion injuries, or you just tried to pick up your toddler to ease their crying, having a muscle strain can not only be uncomfortable, but also very inconvenient. Most of the time, these injuries take time and focus to heal properly. Fortunately, there are some fantastic ways mom can help speed the process to a full recovery and get you back in mommy action before you know it.

Rest and Recovery

One of the primary ways to help heal a muscle injury is through rest and recovery. Allowing the muscle to take a break from its normal routine gives the body a chance to assess the damage and start the healing process. A regimen of pain medication, such as ibuprofen, along with alternating heat packs and ice will help ease the inflammation and provide pain management.

Compression and Elevation

Another way to ease the pain of an injured muscle is to use compression. Applying slight pressure to the muscle helps reduce swelling and can allow the right amount of blood flow to the area. Be careful to not wrap the injury too tightly, as you do not want to restrict the blood flow. You just want to help ease some of the pain and inflammation. There are a variety of wraps and braces on the market that are designed to assist in just such an injury. Most pharmacies will be able to provide assistance in selecting the right one. Along with compression, it is important to keep the injury elevated. This also aids in reducing the swelling and allowing the blood to flow properly to the affected area.

Orthopedic Medicine

Some injuries are severe enough that you need to seek a professional. Orthopedic medicine is a great option for severe strains and injuries. These doctors are the best in the business when it comes to treating joint pains, strains, sprains, and tendon injuries. Originally formed to help children suffering from severe injuries and natural deformities, orthopedic medicine has grown to include rehabilitation from sports-related injuries and even surgeries. Doctors in this field can not only assist in a speedy recovery, but can provide medicines to assist with pain management and help create a plan to avoid future injuries.

Lifestyle

Speaking of avoiding injuries, there are some things you can do to heal from an injury or keep injuries from happening altogether. First of all, hydrate. Water is an important part of a daily diet. Dehydration slows down the body’s ability to heal itself. There are many opinions on how much water is enough. A good rule of thumb is you should drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily and try to shoot for half of your body weight in ounces. Along with drinking enough water, it is important to get enough sleep. The more active you are, the more sleep you need to allow your body to recover. Finally, up your protein intake. What you eat is a key part to a healthy lifestyle. People use a high protein diet when trying to build muscle mass. So if you have a muscle injury, increasing your protein intake helps your body heal and recover at a faster rate, as it has the nutrients it needs to build and strengthen the muscle.

Injuries happen. Even world-class athletes are prone to muscle injuries and setbacks. Your response to the injury will have a direct impact on how long you take to recover. Follow the steps, allow your body to heal, depending on the extent of your injury, seek professional help and be a good steward of your body. You have the tools you need to heal safely and efficiently.

By Anita Ginsburg

Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.