Rehabilitation for Acute Muscle Strains

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early rehab for acute muscle strains

Rehabilitation for Acute Muscle Strains

Growing up I was involved with hockey, soccer and distance running, so I had my fair share of injuries, most of these were minor muscle strains. Whenever I was injured I was interested in the rehabilitation process and how I could speed up my recovery and return to play quickly.

A recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine piqued my interest. This paper highlights the role of early rehabilitation for acute muscle strains, this study used a combination of loads including:
• Static stretching (Three times a day 30 seconds)
• Isometric exercises
• Dynamic resistance exercises
• Heavy slow resistance exercises

More to Explore

Bayer, M.L., Magnusson, S.P., Kjaer, M (2017). Early versus Delayed Rehabilitation after Acute Muscle Injury. N Engl J Med.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28953439

Berrueta, L., Muskaj, I., Olenich, S., Butler, T., Badger, G. J., Colas, R. A., . . . Langevin, H. M. (2016). Stretching Impacts Inflammation Resolution in Connective Tissue. Journal of Cellular Physiology. (OPEN ACCESS)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26588184

Best, T., Gharaibeh, B., & Huard, J. (2013). Stem cells, angiogenesis and muscle healing: A potential role in massage therapies? British Journal of Sports Medicine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23197410

Best, T. M., & Crawford, S. K. (2017). Massage and postexercise recovery: The science is emerging. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27797730

Bove, G., Harris, M., Zhao, H., & Barbe, M. (2016). Manual therapy as an effective treatment for fibrosis in a rat model of upper extremity overuse injury. Journal of the Neurological Sciences.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26810536

Cezar, C.A., Roche, E.T., Vandenburgh, H.H., Duda, G.N., Walsh, C.J., Mooney, D.J. (2016). Biologic-free mechanically induced muscle regeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26811474

Cholok, D., Lee, E., Lisiecki, J., Agarwal, S., Loder, S., Ranganathan, K., Qureshi, A.T., Davis, T.A., Levi, B. (2017). Traumatic muscle fibrosis: From pathway to prevention. J Trauma Acute Care Surg.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27787441

Duchesne, E., Dufresne, S.S., Dumont, N.A. (2017). Impact of Inflammation and Anti-inflammatory Modalities on Skeletal Muscle Healing: From Fundamental Research to the Clinic. Phys Ther. 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28789470

Dunn, S. L., & Olmedo, M. L. (2016). Mechanotransduction: Relevance to Physical Therapist Practice - Understanding Our Ability to Affect Genetic Expression Through Mechanical Forces. Physical Therapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26700270

Fisher, P., Zhao, Y., Rico, M., Massicotte, V., Wade, C., Litvin, J., . . . Barbe, M. (2015). Increased CCN2, substance P and tissue fibrosis are associated with sensorimotor declines in a rat model of repetitive overuse injury. Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling. (Open Access)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25617052

Freitas, S.R., Mendes, B., ... Milanovic, Z. (2017). Can chronic stretching change the muscle-tendon mechanical properties? A review. Scand J Med Sci Sports.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28801950

Laumonier, T., & Menetrey, J. (2016). Muscle injuries and strategies for improving their repair.Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics. (Open Access)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27447481

Ng, J.L., Kersh, M.E., Kilbreath, S., Knothe Tate, M. (2017). Establishing the Basis for Mechanobiology-Based Physical Therapy Protocols to Potentiate Cellular Healing and Tissue Regeneration. Front Physiol. (OPEN ACCESS)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28634452

Rand, E., Gellhorn, A.C. (2016). The Healing Cascade: Facilitating and Optimizing the System. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27788901

Thompson, W. R., Scott, A., Loghmani, M. T., Ward, S. R., & Warden, S. J. (2016). Understanding Mechanobiology: Physical Therapists as a Force in Mechanotherapy and Musculoskeletal Regenerative Rehabilitation. Physical Therapy. (Open Access)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26637643