How long for pulled muscle recovery?

sophiem

Cathlete
I pulled my left bicep a tad on Monday and have avoided using it since then. I've never pulled a muscle before that I can recall. Anyway, it doesn't hurt, but when I stretch my arms out I can still feel it a bit. At what point is it ok to start trying to use it again? It sounds like a kinda dumb question, but if it's a little sore can I use it without further injury or do I have to completely lay off for a long period of time? I'm sure everyone is different, but your input would help me gauge it.
 
Keep strething it. It should feel like a good stretch-not pain. With a pulled muscle the advice is if it hurts don't do it. You are just tearing more fibers. When you go back to lifting start out with a ridiculously light weight with stretching before and afterwards. And ice is always your friend(but not for more than 20 min.). Increase your weight gradually each session. It's better to go too slow than to retear the healing fibers and then have to sit out completely for 3 weeks. Hope this helps. I'm a sports physical therapist and this advice is pretty textbook. Good luck.
 

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