Children usually stay active, but occasionally they overdo it and pull a muscle. Overworked, overstretched muscles may cause the child to complain of soreness, and you may see some swelling. A common muscle children pull is the hamstring, the one at the back of the thigh. The good news is that muscle strains in children usually heal quickly with rest. If the site is swollen, ice packs can help; afterwards, a heating pad can relieve the tenderness. Most of the pulled muscles in children can easily be taken care of, but occasionally, the muscle might tear (tehr) and bleed internally, possibly requiring surgery. Talk to a health care provider immediately if your child complains of severe muscular pain. A physician can also give you more information about the prevention and treatment of pulled muscles in children.
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