How long does it take for a strained abdominal muscle to heal?

A mild strain may heal within a few weeks. A more severe strain may take 6 weeks or longer.

What does a strained stomach muscle feel like?

If you have an abdominal strain, the surface of your stomach area may feel tender and inflamed. You’re more likely to feel these sensations when you’re contracting your abdominal muscles and moving. Other symptoms include: sudden sharp pain.

Can you strain tummy muscles?

An abdominal muscle strain, or pulled stomach muscle, is often an overuse injury. It occurs when muscles in the stomach stretch or tear. Football and tennis players are prone to this injury. But anyone can strain the abdominal muscles.

Can you pull a muscle near your belly button?

Location. Abdominal muscle strains can happen in various locations and include any of the abdominal wall muscles. Abdominal hernias normally occur at specific sites, most commonly in the groin region, the belly button or around previous surgical incisions or other abdominal wounds.

Can torn stomach muscles be repaired?

It occurs when the rectus abdominis muscles (six-pack ab muscles) separate during pregnancy from being stretched. The separation can make a person’s belly stick out or bulge months or years postpartum. It can be repaired with special exercises that help to close the separation.

Is it a hernia or muscle strain?

The pain is similar, but hernias often create a telltale lump beneath the skin. If you’re an active person, you may attribute pain in the lower abdomen or groin to a muscle strain, especially if you experienced that kind of injury when you were younger.

Can a muscle strain feel like a hernia?

Feelings of dull aching and pain in the groin area are common for both a muscle strain and a hernia. A key indicator that you may have a hernia, however, is if you have a small bulge or lump on one side of the groin. This is the result of an area of tissue or organ pushing through the groin or abdominal muscle.

How long does a muscle strain last?

For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months. In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary. With proper treatment, most people recover completely.

How do you fix a pulled stomach muscle?

Treatment

  1. Avoid exercise to allow the injured muscle to heal.
  2. Avoid activities that cause pain or spasm of the abdominal muscles.
  3. Practice gentle stretching.
  4. Apply ice to the injured area in the acute phase, or during the first 48 hours after injury.
  5. Apply heat before activities to loosen the muscle.