A sudden strenuous
activity, without adequate preparation or warming up may give rise to a pulled
/ strained muscle. A strain is an injury in which muscle fibres are unduly
stretched and sometimes partially torn resulting into swelling, spasm
(rigidity) and pain in the affected muscle.
Back muscle is commonly
strained when lifting a heavy weight incorrectly. Strains of thigh, arm and
forearm muscle are also fairly common, especially in athletes.
In case of a sore, bruised,
beaten-up feeling in the affected muscles, Arnica
30 is the remedy of choice. A dose of this remedy should be given every
hour or two till relief is obtained.
On the other hand, if the
pain and stiffness are worse after a period of rest (i.e., when beginning to
move) but better after stirring around, Rhus
tox 30 will be more helpful. Rhus tox can also be tried if Arnica seems to
have helped only partially.
