Muscle Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
We all experience muscle aches at some point in our lives. When muscles need to work harder than they are used to, it can result in pain. The pain is such that it can obstruct your daily chores as well as cause discomfort.
What causes muscle pain?
While muscle overwork is the most common reason, there are many other reasons that can cause muscle pain.
physical activity:
If you are starting a workout, it is common that you will experience some degree of muscle pain. The muscles will gradually adapt to the increasing demand for physical activity. In addition, pain while working may also result from improper technique.
lifestyle:
Sitting for a long time, looking at your phone, bending over are some of the habits that can cause muscle pain. Identifying the cause of pain and changing your lifestyle habits will help you reduce pain.
Injury:
Muscle injury usually results in tension. Muscles can be injured by confusion (injury) and trauma (sports injuries, falls, car accidents, etc.) which can cause stress. Muscle tension can cause mild to severe pain.
Stress and Stretch:
Muscle tension and stretch are two terms often used interchangeably but these are quite different. Although they may be caused by similar activities and share similar signs and symptoms, they involve different body parts.
What is stretch
This is caused by overstretching or tearing of the ligaments - the tissue jointing the two bones together.
symptoms:
Injury
Pain around affected joints
swelling
Difficulty in using the full range of joints
Activities due to stretch:
Walking or exercising on an uneven surface can cause an ankle sprain.
Overexposure while playing the game
Falling on one hand during a fall can cause wrist strain.
Long sit deskbound jobs can also cause a type of stretch
What is a stretch?
stretch can be caused by the tear of muscles or nerves, which connect the strands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. The most common areas affected by muscle tension are the hamstrings and lower extremities.
symptoms:
swelling
Muscle spasms
Muscle weakness
pain
Activities that cause stress:
Athletic activities including walking or jogging.
Long repetitive workouts of muscles can cause severe stress. This can happen while playing a game such as:
Exercise
Tennis
Golf
Rowing
How can stretch be corrected?
The R.I.C.E method usually helps with symptoms such as pain and inflammation. Used for rest, ice ice, compression, and elevation.
The first step to treat muscle pain, tension, stiffness, stretch is to reduce swelling and pain.
Severe pain may require professional medical help. Surgery may be needed to repair strains or torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles. If symptoms persist or worsen, see your doctor immediately.