Pharmacological management for muscle strain
If analgesia is required for a muscle strain, see Analgesia for acute soft-tissue limb conditions. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided in grade 3 muscle strains, at least initially, because of an increased risk of further bleeding within the affected muscle.
Most reviews that have assessed the clinical utility of NSAIDs for recovery from muscle injuries are inconclusive. One 2018 meta-analysis1 supported the use of NSAIDs for reducing loss of strength and muscle sorenessMorelli, 2018.