Experiencing pain in your arms, hands or wrists can be frustrating. To address this pain, it’s important to first identify the source. Arm pain can have many causes, from injuries to chronic conditions like arthritis. If you’ve recently started to feel discomfort that seems to radiate from your forearm, the cause could be forearm muscle strain.
Muscle strain can happen to anyone. It’s especially common among sports players and other athletes. Muscle strain is also common in certain career fields. According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, sprains and strains are the most common workplace injuries. When you want to prevent or treat muscle strain, seeking physical therapy can be an excellent option. Physical therapists use a range of treatment techniques in addressing muscle strain. Learning about the available treatment options can offer insight into the ways physical therapy could help you experience relief.
5 top physical therapy treatments for forearm muscle strain
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy often plays a key role in physical therapy. With manual therapy, your physical therapist will use their hands to directly address your condition. Commonly used manual therapy techniques include joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization. The techniques your physical therapist uses will depend on your particular condition. One of the main benefits of manual therapy is rapid pain relief. By directly addressing the source of your pain, your physical therapist can help you quickly experience a reduction in pain. Manual therapy is more than a pain relief treatment, though. It can also have other long-lasting benefits. These may include improved flexibility and better circulation. If your forearm is hurting due to muscle strain, manual therapy may play a pivotal role in your recovery process.
- Dry needling — Are you experiencing stiffness around your strained forearm? Dry needling may help. This technique involves the insertion of dry, sterile needles into targeted areas of the body. When these needles are inserted into tense or strained muscles, they can promote relaxation and faster healing. Dry needling is used to treat many different conditions and injuries, from overuse injuries to carpal tunnel syndrome. Your physical therapist can help determine whether dry needling is right for your condition.
- Graston Technique® — The Graston Technique is designed to directly relieve pain and tension in soft tissue. Like manual therapy, the Graston Technique involves manipulating soft tissue. The main difference is the tools used. With manual therapy, physical therapists use only their hands. The Graston Technique, however, is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization or (IASTM). With IASTM, physical therapists use specialized stainless steel instruments designed to deliver optimal results. The Graston Technique can be a great way to decrease tissue protective responses, increase flexibility and accelerate recovery. Due to its many benefits, this technique is frequently used to treat muscle strain.
- Targeted exercises — Exercises are a crucial part of physical therapy. When you begin treatment, your physical therapist will work with you to develop an exercise plan that will be tailored to your personal needs and recovery goals. Your plan may incorporate many different strengthening and stretching techniques. If you’re recovering from a strained forearm muscle, your physical therapist may recommend exercises that improve forearm function. You may also benefit from exercises that engage your upper arm. These exercises can improve muscle support around your forearm. Exercises serve multiple purposes; in addition to treating your current symptoms, they also improve your overall physical condition. This can help you prevent more strains and other injuries in the future.
- Total Motion Release® (TMR®) — TMR is a holistic form of therapy treatment. This approach focuses on physical realignment and natural healing. When treating a strained muscle, your physical therapist may incorporate TMR into your treatment. Total Motion Release involves specialized education and exercise. The exercises you learn from your course of treatment can offer lifelong benefits, as you can continue to use them to address discomfort in the future.
Get effective physical therapy treatment for your muscle strain at Forever Fit
At Forever Fit, our licensed physical therapists are committed to delivering results. We offer top-notch treatment across the state of Maryland. You can get excellent treatment at any of our clinics, such as our clinic in Rockville, that specializes in dry needling and vestibular therapy. With our help, you can get the treatment you need to experience lasting relief from your forearm muscle strain.
Contact our team today for more information about muscle strain treatments or to schedule an initial appointment.