“How long does a muscle strain take to heal?”
My son strained a muscle playing basketball with my friends. Should I take him to physical therapy, or can this strain heal on its own?
7 Answers
PhysicalTherapist(Pediatric)MuscleStrain
It all depends depends on the severity of the injury and how well you follow your treatment plan and where the site of the injury. If it's the back it could take between 8-10 weeks sometimes even longer depends on the age and type of strain. If the strain is severe it could take up to 3-6 months to heal. The lesser the strain the quicker it heals within a few weeks.
Mild strains heal in 1–2 weeks, moderate in 3–6 weeks, and severe may take months. Use R.I.C.E. initially. If pain or limited mobility persists, consult a physical therapist.
I would wait about 1 week. If it doesn’t clear up, then at least get him evaluated to make sure there is nothing serious going on. What is actually bothering him though?
Daniel Prata PT, DPT, COMT Lic#40QA01212000
Daniel Prata PT, DPT, COMT Lic#40QA01212000
A strain can heal on its own as long as there is no subsequent re-injury. But then the question is, what can he do? I would recommend a PT consultation.