What to expect from physiotherapy for a muscle strain

Your therapist may assess the painful area, nearby joints, flexibility, strength and the movement that triggered symptoms. This helps distinguish a load-sensitive muscle from problems that need another type of assessment.

The programme often moves from easy range-of-motion work to controlled resistance, then to faster or more demanding tasks. The exercises may target the injured muscle and the surrounding hip, trunk or limb muscles that help share the load.

Complete the home exercises with steady control and record how the muscle responds during and after activity. Avoid sudden jumps in running, lifting or stretching; ask how to adjust the task if symptoms rise rather than settling.

Rehabilitation is guided by function. Before returning to demanding activity, practise the relevant movements at a lower intensity and confirm how to progress them.

Obtain prompt assessment if pain is severe after an injury, you feel a sudden gap or snap, bruising or swelling is rapidly worsening, or you cannot use the limb normally. New numbness, marked weakness, fever or a cold, pale limb needs urgent care.

Ask which loads are suitable now, how to tell normal exercise effort from aggravation, when speed or heavy resistance can return, and whether persistent weakness needs further evaluation.