7 ways physical therapists may treat and prevent muscle strain in the forearm

A muscle strain is tearing in the muscle fibers that’s often accompanied by pain and stiffness. It’s usually a result of overstretching, overloading or repetitive movements. The best way to prevent muscle strain in the forearm is by conditioning your forearms and wrists. In the first several days after an injury, you should rest your forearm to prevent further injury. A physical therapist can provide noninvasive treatments such as soft tissue mobilization to support your body’s natural healing processes.

Muscle strain in the forearm may be caused by sports that involve throwing and activities that involve holding items with your arms outstretched, such as tennis or painting, respectively. It can also be caused by activities like cycling in which you lean on your forearms. Using certain power tools like drills can strain your forearm muscles. Putting sudden pressure on your forearm during a fall can cause muscle strain, too. 

In this blog post, we’ll share seven ways physical therapists can treat and prevent muscle strain in the forearm.

7 treatment and prevention methods for muscle strain in the forearm

While your forearm is tender and sore, you can use the RICE method to care for yourself at home. This stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Try not to use your forearm for any activities that make your pain worse. Cold compresses can be particularly helpful in reducing pain and inflammation. 

A physical therapist can provide personalized treatments for your specific injury, your body and your wellness goals. The first phases of physical therapy treatments usually help relieve pain and stiffness in the tissue of the forearm and promote tissue healing. Later treatments will help restore healthy movement and strengthen your forearms to prevent reinjury.

Physical therapists may use the following methods to treat and prevent muscle strain in the forearm:

1. Manual therapy techniques — In these techniques, your PT uses their hands to loosen up stiffness. This improves circulation to the area, which helps reduce pain and promote healing. Soft tissue mobilization helps with muscle stiffness and knots of tension. If your wrist or elbow is affected, your PT may use joint mobilization techniques.

2. Targeted stretching — Stretching too much, too soon after an injury can make it worse and increase your recovery time. When done properly, light stretching helps increase blood flow and healthy movement in the muscle fibers. It also helps create length in muscles that have become short and stiff.

3. Therapeutic exercises — Therapeutic exercises can help you build resilience in your forearm after a muscle strain. Your PT will guide you through exercises chosen to restore your range of motion and strength. They may also give you some exercises to do between sessions.

4. Ultrasound — Ultrasound helps relieve pain and promote healing by sending heat waves deep into injured tissue. The ultrasound wand delivers high-frequency sound waves into the body, creating a micro-massage effect that helps relax tissue and increase blood flow.

5. McKenzie Method® — The McKenzie Method is a process for assessing musculoskeletal injuries, treating them and preventing reinjury. It makes use of the body’s inclination to heal itself, supporting the healing process with targeted movement.

6. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) — If you’ve been dealing with a chronic forearm injury, your PT may use stainless steel instruments to locate and break up scar tissue. The instruments allow for more precise treatment than manual therapy techniques. The Graston Technique® is a type of IASTM that involves a specific set of tools.

7. Ergonomic assessments — If you strained your forearm through repetitive movements at work or during another activity you do often, your PT can show you how to adjust your environment and your movements to support better functioning. Ergonomic assessments help ensure that you can keep doing these activities without putting too much strain on your body.

Get personalized treatment for forearm strain at KC Rehab

Pain in the muscles after a workout can be a sign that you’ve challenged yourself in a good way. If your pain is intense, if it keeps coming back, or if it restricts your movement, it may be a warning that you’re pushing yourself too hard. You should always warm up before physical activity and stretch afterward. 

A physical therapist can help you make a fuller and faster recovery from a forearm muscle strain. At KC Rehab, we get to know our patients so we can provide treatment that supports your life outside of physical therapy. We begin with an in-depth assessment and listen to your concerns. We provide some education to help you understand your condition. Then we work with you to create your treatment plan together.

Are you ready to find out if physical therapy is right for you? We can help. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.