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Muscle Pain
Muscle pain results from injury or overexertion, infections of the soft tissues, or inflammatory conditions. Muscle pain can be localized to one muscle group or diffuse, involving multiple muscle groups.
Muscle pain can be mild or severe depending on the cause. Related symptoms that can occur with muscle pain are tenderness, swelling, redness or fever.
Most muscle pain results from
- Wear and tear
- Overuse
- Injuries in joints/ bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues.
The reasons for pain in the leg can be neurological, musculoskeletal, or vascular. They could also overlap.
Since the reasons are different, pain too can differ -- sharp, dull, numbing, tingling, burning, radiating, or aching. It can also be acute, meaning sudden and short term, or it can also be chronic and persistent.
How to manage
If serious causes of cramps have been ruled out, self-help measures can be appropriate.
To prevent cramps
- Always stretch and warm up before and after exercising.
- Avoid dehydration by drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water a day.
- Regularly stretch and massage the legs.
Sports injury treatment;
Minor sports injuries, such as leg sprains and strains can be treated with RICE
Rest
To prevent further injury
Ice
To reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain. Applied for up 20 minutes wrapped in a cloth, not directly on the skin.
Compression
Using an elastic bandage, firmly but not tightly wrapped, to reduce swelling and pain.
Elevation
So that gravity assists with draining, to reduce swelling and pain.
The Combiflam range of products to manage muscle pain
- Combiflam® ICYHOTTM
- Combiflam® Plus