OK, I hurt myself yesterday playing softball. Know first that I am an out of shape (for the moment, due to car accident in Nov., now getting back in shape) personal trainer, and I know the rules for warming up (first light calisthenics, then stretching, especially those quads/calves). But dang it (expletive deleted), I took off for first base and my left quad (rectus femoris, runs right down the front of my thigh)went "Oh, no, no. What do you think your doing?" The right one is a bit pulled. too, but the left one is killing me! I have been practicing softball for four weeks and this is not out first game, so I am a bit annoyed. Like a dummy I kept playing, too, because it is a coed team and we were short on girls. I didn't want to be the reason we had to forfeit!

Now, my question is, besides RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation), is there anything else I should be doing, food/supplement wise? I know how to re-hab it, but am curious if anyone ups any particular supplements after an injury.

Currently I am taking:

Flax/borage oil - Tbsp or two a day
multi-min/vite
Wellnes Formula (another multi plus herbs)
Super Citrimax
L-Carnitane (for working out/games/kickboxing)
Potassium
calcium/ vite D/magnesium softgels

Any input is helpful!

-Gimpy (Shelly)

Hi, Shelly -

As a veteran of many a pulled muscle, sprained ligament and even reconstructive surgery, I incorporate some natural and some mainstream remedies.
- I usually up my Vitamin C intake from 1000 mg to 4000 mg (taken 3-4 times throughout the day).
- Ibuprofen has consistently worked for me in shortening rehab time by reducing inflammation quicker. I take 800 mg 4 times a day right after the injury, but not for more than 5-7 days. (And drink plenty of water with it.)
- Most recently, I increase my L-glutamine from 15 g to 25 g, taken 3 times throughout the day.

All this seems to help me, but everyone is different. And I hear you on the "running to first" pull. I've done that a couple of times, even after doing all the warm up stretches in the world. It hurts like a bugger and you can't really get away from using that muscle...

Happy recuperation!