Top Four Home Remedies for Sore Muscles, Sprains, and Strains

Top Four Home Remedies for Sore Muscles, Sprains, and Strains

by Ann Harrison

Many people sustain minor injuries while exercising, participating in sporting events, or other athletic activities.

Muscles can also become tense and sore during normal everyday activities. Here are four home remedies that I personally recommend to treat minor injuries, thus saving you a trip to the doctor or hospital. However, this article is intended for information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for seeking medical attention if the pain becomes unbearable, or the area begins swelling profusely, or the remedies fail to relieve your pain. If you suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes, consult your physician, before trying any of these suggested remedies for yourself.

Stressed young handsome man with neck pain colored in red

Epsom Salts Mixed in Warm Water

If you’ve sustained a minor cut, bruise, or experience muscle soreness after an intense workout, soaking the injured area in a tub or sink full of warm water, mixed with Epsom Salts can relax the muscle, and pull the excess fluid from the injury, to reduce any swelling or inflammation that can occur. Soak the area for up to 15 minutes, or until the water begins to cool, and continue this treatment up to three times a week, as needed. Be sure to use lukewarm water, as hot water can cause the Epsom Salts to dry your skin. I have personally used this remedy a couple of times for myself. For example, I had a sore on the corner of my big toe, where I pulled the nail into the quick. After soaking my foot in warm water mixed with Epsom Salts, the soreness went away after a few days.

Heat

If your back or shoulder muscles are tense, caused by stress, or simply the strain of daily activities, taking a warm shower or bath can ease the tension and sooth aching muscles. In some cases, warm compresses such as a damp cloth, carefully applied heating pad, or even an old sock filled with rice and heated in the microwave over for up to three minutes, can ease muscle aches or cramps. Soaking sprained ankles or wrists in warm water alone can reduce swelling, and serve as a pain reliever.

When my daughter has been with me during a holiday visitation period, I would often heat a sock filled with rice, which my family keeps in the freezer, to soothe her to sleep at night.

Ice

In many cases, if a person has sustained a strain or sprained muscle, applying ice packs for up to twenty minutes, every two hours (or as needed) will reduce swelling and relieve pain temporarily. To apply ice to the injured area, place a handful of ice cubes on a towel or in an ice pack with a plastic cap, and apply the towel or ice pack to the injury. If you have jell packs, like you’d get from the hospital, you can freeze them and use them when needed.

Applying a Bandage to the Injury.

If you’ve sustained a sprain during exercise, athletic activity, or the injury was caused by a minor accident, applying an elastic bandage, such as a roller bandage or an Ace bandage, can immobilize the injured limb and reduce any stress to the injury itself. Applying a bandage to a sprained ankle, for example, can minimize further damage to the injury, should you need to seek medical attention. Applying splints to sprained or strained wrists can serve the same purpose as a bandage, as the splint supports the injured wrist or hand. These splints are also good for patients who have been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

You can discover more useful and inexpensive home remedies to relieve muscle aches and pains by visiting

http://commonsensehome.com/home-remedies-for-sore-muscles/ and

http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-muscle-strain.html.

About the Author

Ann Harrison is a totally blind author, who grew up in the small town of Rochelle, Georgia, and has moved back to her family home after living in North Georgia for several years. Ann has written many articles of general interest for a number of clients since June of 2010, including the Cordele Dispatch. She has also published a short story entitled “The Big Climb” in Awethology Light. Ann also published a story entitled “The Woods” in December Awethology Light Volume by The #Awethors. She is currently working on several novels, and a self-help book. To read more of Ms. Harrison’s inspirational writings, visit her blog at www.wwannwrites.wordpress.com.

 

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