Contracture is a temporary disorder characterized by the involuntary and persistent contraction of one or several muscles
This is very painful because the muscle does not relax but remains contracted. Therefore, the muscle looks hard and tense to the naked eye.
Changing position may help, but the pain is usually still felt, although less severe.
It usually appears in joint disorders and as a consequence of trauma and muscle immobilization.
In general, all people who have to keep a joint immobilized are exposed to the appearance of contractures.
Likewise, hysterical contractures that affect the muscles of the extremities and face can appear, giving rise to characteristic attitudes.
In mild cases, the stiffness is not noticeable enough to suggest a contracture. The true contractures occur in severe and long-lasting cases, when the limbs cannot extend despite efforts to do so. It is very typical of hysterical contracture the activation of other neighboring muscles, by the patient, in order to continue maintaining the deformity or to perform some movement.
Extensive superficial scars produced by Burns or accidents in which part of the skin and subcutaneous tissue has been lost can also cause contractures.
folk remedies
Remedy for muscle contracture # 1: Performing massages is, in fact, a good remedy to improve contractures, since, apparently, it exerts its beneficial action by stimulating blood circulation in the injured area. On the other hand, if there are adhesions between the different groups of tissues, the movement achieved with the massage breaks said adhesions and improves the mobility of the affected limb.
A widely used massage technique is Chinese therapy. The massage itself is performed following the following steps:
- You begin by applying the heel-of-palm friction method or the thumb pressure method on the contracted area. The kneading and pinching methods are continued in a gradually deeper way.
- The following acupoints of the upper limbs will be worked on: jianyu, quchi, shaohoi, hegu and neiguan. In the lower limbs, the xuehai, weizhong, chengshan, chengjin (located above chengshan, in the middle of the gastronemius muscle) and taixi acupoints will be used. In any case, the poking and kneading methods will be used.
- Traction will be applied to the contracted muscles, pulling them forcefully while massage is applied to the group of contracted muscles and to the acupoints closest to the joint.
Finally, kneading, pinching, friction-rolling and vibration techniques are applied to the contracted area.
Remedy for muscle contracture #2: Boil 1 tablespoon of passion flower in a cup of water for 5 minutes. Cover and let cool. Strain and drink 2 cups daily for 2 weeks. This remedy helps to relax the muscles not only in the case of contractures but also in stiff neck and lumbago produced by nervous tension or stress. However, its effects are only noticeable after a couple of days.
Remedy for muscle contracture #3: Apply bee venom ointment (can be purchased at herbalists or botanical pharmacies) on the area that presents the contracture. Do not use this remedy in case of allergy to bee stings.
Remedy for muscle contracture #4 Use the homeopathic remedy Rhus toxicodendron which is recommended when pain is exacerbated at the beginning of movements and improves with heat.
Remedy for muscle contracture #5 Use the homeopathic remedy Arnica 7CH when the contracture is due to great muscular effort or sudden movement.
Remedy for muscle contracture #6 Use the homeopathic remedy Magnesia phosphorica 7DH when the contracture is caused by a cold wind current.
Remedy for muscle contracture #7 Use the essences of Bach flowers oak that relieves contractures and vervain that reduces muscle tension.
Remedy for muscle contracture #8 Apply a cotton cloth soaked in hot water on the area where the affected muscle is located.
Remedy for muscle contracture # 9 Use cypress oils, marjoramrosemary, black pepper and thyme. This is an aromatherapy remedy.
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Remedy for muscle contracture # 10: Crush a handful of fresh rosemary leaves, 5 cloves and 2 cinnamon sticks. Then add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger. Pour all these ingredients to the content of a bottle of red wine of good quality. Close the bottle and leave macerating for 10 days. After that time, strain and store in an airtight container. Apply, using a soaked cloth, on the affected area.
Remedy for muscle contracture # 11: Put in the middle of a 10-inch square piece of muslin or cheesecloth the contents of 1 cup of epsom salts, 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers, 1 tablespoon of juniper berries, 1 tablespoon of pine needles, 1 tablespoon of sage leaves, 2 teaspoons of lemon balm leaves and 2 teaspoons of mint leaves. Add 15 drops of eucalyptus, peppermint, or juniper essential oil to the mixture. Gather the material into a bag and tie with string or thread long enough to hang from the hot water faucet in the bathtub (hot water will flow through the bag). After hanging the bag and filling the tub, let go and let it float in the water. Immerse for twenty to thirty minutes; undo the bag when finished. This remedy is applied when the contracture covers a very wide area of the body.
Remedy for muscle contracture # 12: Boil a teaspoon of root devil’s claw in a cup of water for 5 minutes. Let cool, strain and drink up to 2 cups a day. Avoid this remedy in case of ulcer, pregnancy or lactation.
Remedy for muscle contracture # 13: Pour 1 tablespoon of valerian into a cup of boiling water. Cover and leave to infuse. Take up to 3 cups a day. This remedy is a natural muscle relaxant, but should not be taken in case of pregnancy.
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Remedy for muscle contracture # 14: Apply, if the contracture is located on the back, a poultice of clay (preferably warm to hot) in the entire area (from the neck to the coccyx), with a duration of one and a half to two hours, once a day.
Remedy for muscle contracture # 15: ANDWrap the affected muscles with a cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar, which will be left to act for a few minutes. You can also add some Cayenne pepper to vinegar.
recommendations
Avoid exercising excessively or suddenly increasing the intensity of the exercises.
Warm up the muscles before doing any type of training
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Perform muscle stretching to reduce the risk of contractures. In the morning, get on all fours and arch your back, first toward the floor, then toward the ceiling. In the afternoon. do shoulder rotations and head movements up and down, and also from side to side..
Do not lift weights for several days after suffering from a contracture, especially of the back.
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