Pulled Muscle in Leg

Do you feel a sudden sharp pain in the leg during the course of normal daily activities like walking, running, sports, etc? This pain may be due to a pulled muscle in leg. In this article, I will tell you about its symptoms and treatment.

As mentioned, leg muscles can be strained due to various reasons. Sometimes, overdoing any of the above mentioned activities can lead to muscle cramps. Though we cannot avoid all the aforementioned activities as they are a part of our daily routine, we must know what exactly we can do to reduce the amount of exertion, to avoid a pulled muscle in leg.

Types of Pulled Muscle in Leg

A pulled muscle in leg behind the knee or a hamstring injury can be divided into 3 grades:

Grade 1: A grade 1 pull is a minor strain that does not result in a fully torn tissue in the muscle. There is minimal pain, which stops after resting for a while.

Grade 2: A grade 2 pull is caused due to partial tearing of the ligaments in the hamstring/calf as a result of a pulled calf muscle. This injury take longer to recover. Though physical activity is not impossible, the person may find it difficult to maintain the same pace for about 5 - 7 weeks.

Grade 3: This is the most severe type of pulled muscle in leg that a person can experience. It is caused when the muscle tissue fibers of the leg are totally torn. It is a serious injury which requires medical attention immediately. Recovery takes much longer than Grade 1 or Grade 2 injury, around 3 - 5 months!

Pulled Muscle in Leg Causes

To understand the remedies for a pulled muscle in your leg, we must know about its causes. Given below are some of the reasons why you may experience a pulled muscle in leg.

• Sudden heavy physical activity.
• Lifting heavy objects.
• Stress on calf muscles as a result of sports or exercises.
• Overexertion of muscles.

Pulled Muscle in Leg Symptoms

Read the following pulled muscle symptoms to ascertain if you indeed have a pulled muscle in leg.

• A sudden shooting pain in the back of your leg during some sort of physical activity.
• Pain in your leg even when you are not engaging in any leg straining activity.
• Inability to move the leg in any manner.
• Inability to stand straight on your feet or toes.

Pulled Muscle in Leg Treatment

Overdoing thigh exercises can lead to a muscle pull in the hamstring. Generally, when one has a pulled muscle in leg hamstring, rest is advised. In addition to rest, you can carry out the following treatments to ease the pain.

Stretch: Keep the injured leg stretched out. Do not engage in any activity that requires you to bend your injured leg. This can help reduce the muscle pain.

Cold Therapy: Use an ice pack on the injured portion of your leg. Make sure you don't place the ice pack directly on the leg. Use a cloth or towel to wrap it. Press it gently on the injury, applying minimal amount of pressure. Since the muscle tissues have been inflamed due to the injury, ice reduces the burning.

Elevation: Sometimes, a pulled muscle in leg may cause swelling in the injured portion of the leg. Keeping the leg elevated helps reduce the swelling and also eases the pain a bit.

Compression Bandage: This is also an effective pulled muscle in leg treatment. However, one must make sure that the tightness of the bandage is just right. If it is tied too loose, there will be no effect of the bandage. If it is tied too tight, the person might end up in more pain than before!

Popping Pills: If none of the above pulled muscle in leg treatment work, you may consider taking pain killers to get some relief. Ensure that you consult a doctor before taking any kind of medication and most importantly check the date of expiry on the medication.

These were some of the easy and effective ways to get some respite from the terrible pain due to a pulled muscle in leg. Performing regular muscle building exercises can help in reducing muscle pain. If pain persists for a longer time than usual, visit a doctor immediately!