It is that time of year when we all get flu shots. For many people, this is a standard yearly occurrence and once it is done we stop thinking about it. However, a minority of people continue to think about that flu shot as it results in a painful muscle strain in the location where the vaccine was administered.
A flu shot is typically administered in the deltoid muscle which is located on the outer aspect of the upper arm. The bodies reaction to the vaccine can sometimes cause mild inflammation which can lead to muscle soreness. Also, if the muscle is tense during the injection it can lead to a muscle strain. You can tell if you have a muscle strain after the flu shot if you have soreness, limited range of motion, swelling, and possible radiating pain down the arm. Typically your symptoms were persists longer than a few days if it is a muscle strain. Physical Therapy can help decrease your muscle strain by using targeted exercises, manual treatment, and modalities. Therefore, if you find yourself still thinking about that flu shot after three days, it might be time to call Harbor PT!