How to quickly recover from hand muscle strain

Hand muscle strain can be promoted through rest and braking, alternating cold and hot compresses, medication relief, rehabilitation training, physical therapy, and other methods to facilitate recovery. Muscle strains are usually caused by excessive exercise, improper posture, external impact, muscle fatigue, and old injuries that have not healed.

1. Rest and Braking

During the acute phase, activities should be stopped immediately, and the injured area should be secured with bandages or protective gear to avoid secondary injury. Severe cases require a triangular bandage to suspend the forearm and keep the muscles in a state of no tension. The braking time depends on the degree of damage, and mild strains usually take about 3 days.

2. Alternating cold and hot compress

Within 48 hours of injury, apply ice for 15 minutes every 2 hours to reduce swelling and inflammation. After 48 hours, switch to hot compress to promote blood circulation. You can use a warm water bag or hot towel, and the temperature should be controlled at around 40 degrees Celsius. Alternating between hot and cold can accelerate the clearance of metabolic waste, but caution should be exercised when using it for those with abnormal skin sensation.

3. Drug relief

When the pain is obvious, you can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, loxoprofen sodium tablets, or apply flurbiprofen gel ointment externally according to the doctor's advice. Muscle spasms can be treated with methylprednisolone hydrochloride tablets, but attention should be paid to a history of drug allergies and gastrointestinal reactions.

4. Rehabilitation training

After the swelling subsides, passive joint activity begins, gradually carrying out grip ball compression, rubber band resistance and other training. During the recovery period, wrist flexion and extension, finger to finger movements, and other movements can be performed. The training intensity should not cause pain, with 3 groups per day and 10 times per group.

5. Physical therapy

Ultrasonic therapy can promote tissue repair, and infrared radiation can improve local blood circulation. Interference electrotherapy is commonly used in the rehabilitation department of hospitals to relieve pain. For severe adhesions, shock wave therapy may be considered, but osteoporosis patients need to be evaluated before use. During the recovery period, it is important to maintain a balanced diet and supplement high-quality protein and vitamin C in moderation to aid in connective tissue repair. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol to avoid affecting blood circulation, and elevate the affected limb during sleep to reduce swelling. Do not lift heavy objects or engage in vigorous exercise within two weeks. If symptoms such as persistent numbness and limited joint movement occur, timely follow-up examination should be conducted. Daily hand muscle stretching can be done to prevent injuries, warm up adequately before exercise, and wear exercise protective gear if necessary.