How long should I rest my sore muscles?
492991
sounds like you need a little more protein in your diet, try a nighttime protein that breaks down slower since this is the time when your body actually heals.  this is the stuff i use.  But you can still workout not using that muscle group.  Never work triceps, shoulders, or chest at the same time or day after.  You use these muscles together in almost all lifts so you'll fatigue faster without a successfull workout.  You should also only work one muscle group ONCE a week or else your going to break down the muscle since it takes time to heal efficently at most twice a week for hard building muscle groups.  Biceps and chest are the most overtrained muscles because people don't know this and want an impressive bicep or chest... its only hurting your goals.  here's the nighttime protien i use\nhttp://www.bodybuilding.com/store/mhp/pro.html gives you a boosted amino level for a full 7 hours.
942785
A good rule is to use ice on the injury for 20 min, then off for 20 min, then ice again for 20 minutes in the first 24 hrs.  NO HEAT until you ready to start exercising again, it can cause the injury to swell/ hurt/ deteriorate if you start to soon though.
380809
After 5 days the swelling should be down. When the "pulled" muscle occurred you should have alternated with heat and cold. I also suggest you do it now for approximately 15 minutes at a time 2-3 times a day. Also depending on how severe the "pulled" muscle is you may need some physio therapy. Did you see a physician yet???
94141
Depends on what's wrong. If just muscle pain, then rest it for a couple of days, trying to keep good posture. If it doesn't clear up within a day or two maybe it would be wise to see a doctor.
1171421
You need to drink lots of water. If you are that sore, then you must be sweating it out by the buckets! Also, plain water is not the best. Drink something that balances your electrolyets, like Gatorade or some similar product. If you don't want to go broke buying Gatorade, make your own. Just mix Kool-Aid or whatever brand you prefer (non-sweetened) with 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp salt. This replaces what your body loses during the workout. I would recommend drinking 1 liter of water for every hour you are working out, and following up with one liter of Gatorade and continued water until bed. Also, keep water by your bedside and drink it regularly when you wake up at night (to turn over or to get up and go to the bathroom). Doing these things will prevent your body from getting too dehydrated from the work out and will rebalance your electrolytes. Also, do not strenuously work out the same muscle groups 2 days in a row. This does more harm than good as the muscle does not have time to repair and grow between workouts. DO however stretch the muscles thoroughly and make sure that you do not "nurse" them the next day. Stretching a couple times throught the day, combined with your normal activity, will help to release the lactic acid from the muscles as quickly as possible. The less you drink and the more you "nurse" the muscle, the longer you will be sore. Finally, eat banans and raisins as your snacks. These are high potassium fruits and will help to prevent muscle cramps, especially at night. I learned all these things the hard way when I began working out. I hope what I have learned helps you!
913102
First tell yourself that the aches will get better the more you exercise as long as you are doing it properly.\nHeating pads and cool packs do good.\nhomemade cool pack:\n1 part water\n3 parts rubbing alcohol (higher % if you can find it)\nPut in ziplock baggie and freeze....it will not be solid, more like gel\nplus it is reusable and cheaper.\n\nEpsom Salt Baths do great to.\nOr talk to your Dr if you have the money and get a tens unit....you would be amazed how that helps.\n\nJust stretch it out before and after exersizing  to keep from getting stiff. Much luck to you!
415920
wow!! don't listen to that guy that answered before me.  First of all you don't get sore from working out if you don't stretch. Stretching has nothing to do with it!!  The reason you are sore is because when you do excersises you are "tearing" the muscles.  That is what makes them sore!  But its good for them to tear, that is what you want to happen.  The reason is that when your body repairs those torn muscle fibers they repair them even stronger than before.  Thats why people get stronger when they lift weights and exercise. The more you tear them the stronger you will be.  \nAnd yes the harder you workout the sorer you will be but thats not necessarily a bad thing.  Its good if thats all your doing is "tearing" the muscles.  Now if you pull something on the other hand then that is bad.  But from your question I don't think thats what happened.  \nAnd yes its fine to workout 2 days after your last one.  Its best to leave at least a day of rest before you work that same muscle group again so that it will have time to repair completely.  Actually today just work out a different set of muscles and then go back to your back tomorrow or the next day.  \nYou should stretch but thats just to get your muscles warmed up so that when you put strain on them you won't seriously injure anything!\nAlso if your a beginner and thats why you have a trainer then I would recommend getting a book instead.  You will learn more and its way cheaper. If you are a male then I would recommend buying a book put out by Men's Health. They have a really good one called the "hard-body plan".  Its worth it.  Buy it at amazon and get it used for cheap!
205713
Try laying flat on your back and raise your legs until your heels are about 2-3 inches off the floor, and hold them there for as long as you can.  Do it as often as you like but be prepared for sore muscles in you stomach.
750430
Get some 5 pound hand weights. Lay on your back with your arms stretched out on each side, away from your body.\n\nLift these weights up to where they meet. Then back down. Do 15-20 of these 3 times a day. Youre gonna be sore,... you can start out slower than that....but this WILL work.
596142
just rest for like 2 days and just do some short jogs maybe a mile? just take it easy for 2 days and you'll be back to normal. i no from experience
640870
Sore muscles are caused by lactic acid, which builds up in your muscles naturally, and causes the burn you often feel when lifting weights or are exhausted from a soccer match. When you warm up your muscles, the increased blood flow can remove some of the lactic acid, and make your muscles feel better. To further get rid of lactic acid, try stretching, eating bananas, or drinking tonic water (gin optional). \n(the quinine in tonic water breaks down lactic acid)
89034
I haven't pulled the muscles in my hamstrings yet, but I once pulled every muscle in my right arm. I took ibuprofen for the swelling (I was told by my dr. to take 800mg and drink alot of water every 6-8 hrs., but please note I am NOT a doctor), and rotated hot and cold compresses. I tried to wait it out, but ended up going to the emergency room. They put my arm in a sling, and gave me muscle relaxers to help with the pain, as well as anti-inflammatory medication. I was told to move it a bit, so the muscles didn't stiffen up, but also to really limit how much I used it. That's not something you can do with your legs unless you have a wheelchair handy, so I'm sorry, but you may have to bite the bullet and see a doctor. UNLESS, you know one and he will call in something for you (a prescription).  If you have access to a hot tub or sauna, you may try that, or just taking a very warm bath. Hope you feel better!
413462
Drink PLENTY of water.  Warm up before and stretch after.  It takes a while to get over a pulled muscle.  I pulled a quad one fall, would think it's OK and then re-aggravate it every time I'd start to run.
558287
it depends on how bad the injury is and where its actually located,ideally rest in a sling for a period of 4-6 wks wud b required ,and then mobilization is mandatory,gentle exercises within the sling would be started within two weeks and a more strenous regime after the healing.
1125491
I would say at least 8 hours. I work out on a regular basis, and the times that I train extremely hard I would require at least 8 hours just to function. But If I was trying to avoid being sore and not cranky at work , 9 hours.
917357
Start with what you can comfortably do between 8 and 12 reps with.  Do 3 sets.  Once you're over the initial soreness, gauge yourself like this...  " If I can't do 8, it's too heavy.  If I can do more than 12, it's too light. "   Give yourself 48 hours recovery time between workouts on the same muscle group.  Keep your motion strict and slow.  Use the full range of muscle motion.  DON'T CHEAT!!!  It's best to lift with 1 partner that you have no desire to impress.  Strict, proper form on lighter weights will produce much better results than heavy, jerked lifting where you don't go all the way down, or all the way up, or if you use momentum to lift heavier, or to do more reps.  You will be much more impressive with RESULTS, than you will be with how you look trying to achieve them.
364835
take an asprin (preferbably the kind ment for muscle aches)\n\nthen put a hot cloth on it for 20 minutes, put ice for 20 and repeat as often as needed, try sleeping with your back on an electric blanket (maybe... i'm not sure how safe it is)\n\ngood luck