History
The course of a muscle strain depends on how severe the previous injury was, i.e. how much the muscle was overstretched. Depending on the extent and scope of the injury, a muscle strain takes two to three weeks to heal.
Prognosis
In most cases a pulled muscle heals completely within a period of one to two weeks. However, if an appropriate treatment (PECH scheme) is initiated quickly, the affected patients feel a significant reduction in symptoms shortly after the causal event. Nevertheless, the muscle affected by a pulled muscle should not be overstrained even after the pain has subsided.
In general, light activities are permitted during this period. However, heavy muscular strain should be avoided at all costs. Above all, no sports activities should be performed after a pulled muscle until the muscle has fully recovered.
Otherwise, even an uncomplicated muscle strain can quickly develop into a torn muscle or muscle fibre. This, in turn, can lead to the formation of scar tissue within the affected muscle and permanently limit performance.
