How do I know if it's a pulled muscle?

thank you so much!

A “pulled muscle” is more usually called a muscle “strain”. . They can be caused by: failure to “warm up” properly, by more gentle exercise and stretching, before starting the more demanding physical activity; extreme muscular effort (overload) or excessive duration of activity; and over extending the muscle beyond the limitations of restricted flexibility. . The signs and symptoms of a strain are: Pain and difficulty moving the injured muscle; swelling; and discolored / bruised skin. . The best immediate treatment for a strained leg muscle is to keep the muscle stretched, and raise the leg while applying a cold compress for up to 20 minutes per hour (e.g. ice pack) if possible. Anti-inflammatory pain killers e.g. aspirin / ibuprofen may be taken to reduce pain and to improve mobility. An elastic compression bandage will help, and once the initial swelling has gone down a gentle heat treatment (e.g. warm bath will probably help to ease the stiffness. . The muscle should be rested as much as is practicable until the pain has reduced significantly without having to use analgesic tablets (pain killers) and the swelling gone down. At this point, light massage and gentle flexibility warm up routines may be followed by light exercise, but do not attempt normal full-load exercises until full recovery can be assumed to have occurred. . A “grade 1 strain” is comparatively minor and you may have recovered enough to resume normal exercise within a few days. . However, it may take 3 to 6 weeks for a “grade 2” strain to heal sufficiently to resume full-load exercise, and a severe “grade 3” strain involving significant (possibly total) tearing of the muscle needs hospital treatment - possibly including surgery and / or immobilization with a cast. Recovery from such grade 3 injuries can take between 3 and 6 months. .

– Best wishes - Majikthise. .