Muscle pain is one of the most common pains that we can often feel, according to several studies carried out by different medical authorities such as the Colombian Association for the Study of Pain in Colombia, at least 76% of the population suffers from chronic muscle pain, but it is estimated that a third of the world's population suffers from muscle pain and an even more significant number of people are even affected by their daily live for this. But what is muscle pain itself, what does it consist of, what are its main causes and what can we do to prevent or treat it?
- MUSCLE PAIN
Muscle pain is as we mentioned above one of the main consultations with the doctor often, this consists of a discomfort that can range from moderate to unbearable in one or several parts of the body that can vary according to the type of injury or pain, in some cases limiting the movement of some areas or taking certain positions, Its onset is usually sudden and in some cases the symptoms of muscle pain disappear after a short period of time without the need to be or have been treated. But that's not all, muscle pain is also seen as a symptom of major diseases such as fibromyalgia, cancer, tearing, polymyalgia and even certain types of infections that can be caused by animal bites such as ticks which are also accompanied by stiffness and muscle pain in some cases. The following are the main causes of muscle pain or myalgias as it is also known.
4 MAIN CAUSES OF MUSCLE PAIN
- MUSCLE PAIN FROM INJURY
Injuries are the main cause of muscle pain, especially in those who constantly play sports or who perform jobs in which strength or certain types of constant and specific movements are essential. Muscle pain due to injury usually occurs due to excessive exertion which causes irritation not only in the structure of the muscle but also in its tendon area, this area is often affected in most injuries and is what we commonly call tendon rupture. Muscle aches are usually divided into three degrees and types within the injuries they can be of the type
*contracture , which is very common and is the one we feel most of the time, which basically consist of the hardening of the muscle due to some bad movement or excessive repetition of it.
*Stretch: This type of muscle pain within injuries occurs when excessive force is made on the muscles with a goal is quite common in those athletes who require elasticity such as those who practice martial arts or gymnastics or those workers who must constantly be stretching or doing repetitive movements such as those who work on construction sites
*Tear: As we mentioned before, this occurs when beyond the muscle the tendon area of the muscle is also affected, thus generating a rupture in both the flesh and the muscle fibers, generally this appears from a blow, a poorly performed stretch or even falls.
- MUSCLE PAIN DUE TO TENSION
Muscle tension pain is mainly related to muscle stiffness caused by stress, anxiety and even depression that is caused due to the current busy standard of living, tension accumulates due to traffic, work load or work, family or personal problems muscle tension pain is usually sporadic in some cases but in others stronger, It is a constant pain that is also accompanied by other symptoms such as:
*Stiff muscles * Stiffness in movements
*Irritability* Sleep difficulties
*Headache * Tiredness
when muscle pain due to tension usually occurs in areas such as the jaw, necks, back, legs and in more acute cases it can imply facial paralysis or total loss of mobility in the legs, for this reason we recommend you to do any type of relaxing activity such as Yoga or meditate something that has been bought works best for this type of pain are massages with special oils and essences that They help not only to relax your body but also your mind.
- MUSCLE PAIN DUE TO OVERLOAD
Muscle pain due to overload usually occurs mainly in those people who do sports but perhaps not professionally who often suffer from this type of muscle pain are usually those people who dedicate many hours of their time to the gym or who are dedicated to heavy work, this type of pain is generated mainly in areas such as the legs and back and is often produced by bad movements thus generating discomfort, feeling of stiff muscle to the touch, discomfort in the joints and problems in terms of mobility especially if the pain is in the back or legs.
Unlike other types of muscle pain, this is easy to identify since a small bump is usually seen or felt to the touch in the affected area, this is due to the tension that is generated in the muscle and its fibers, for this reason for those who usually do physical activities, especially those related to weight lifting or those who work performing heavy activities, it is recommended
*Performing stretching exercises before and after is routine
* Be in constant hydration
*Take small active breaks
*In case of lifting weight, use the respective protection to avoid injuries
In addition to these recommendations, we also want to suggest that you regularly visit your physiotherapist to prevent further damage and that you visit your trusted masseur to treat your muscles in the right way.
- MUSCLE PAIN FROM BACTERIA OR BITES
Although it is one of the least likely cases to occur, the bites of some insects such as ticks can generate muscle pain that is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, these pains are mostly not progressive, they begin with a fairly strong pain load and in many cases cause the sufferer to not be able to move. In cases where it is identified that muscle pain is generated by bites or bacteria, it is best to go to a doctor immediately, not to self-medicate or resort to therapies or home remedies that may worsen the symptoms.
- HOW DOES MUSCLE PAIN AFFECT US?
Suffering from pain and especially muscle pain can affect us beyond a physical issue, muscle pain can affect our mood and the way we relate to our environment. It can affect our sleep cycle and even generate absences from face-to-face or in the worst case absenteeism where our daily life is completely overshadowed by pain, this can bring us consequences both at work and at home. When muscle soreness
3. HOW CAN WE TREAT MUSCLE PAIN ?
- MEDICINES
The most important thing when suffering from some type of pain and more so if it is a muscle pain is to first go to a doctor because not all pain can be harmless as we mentioned before a muscle pain can even become a muscle or muscle fiber tear, when the pain becomes a stabbing pain, that lasts even months between 3 or more we can already talk about chronic pain. If the pain becomes an intense pain that prevents the affected area from responding to touch, has intense muscle spasms or prevents you from moving, it is time to visit the doctor and go to the mediation that he or she himself provides. Remember that it is important not to self-medicate in this way you will avoid adverse problems such as drug dependence.
- MASSAGES
Massages allow you to reduce the intensity of pain and are of great help if they are accompanied by adequate treatment and medical accompaniment depending on the case that requires it, especially in muscle pain caused by injuries or bacteria, although there are different types of massages there are some specific ones that help the different ones to reduce muscle pain depending on their cause, these massages can be:
- Scen Tao massages OR volcanic stone massages , since by using stones of volcanic origin that retain heat and release it progressively, they allow the ailments to be worked slowly, the heat gradually penetrates the area, thus generating relaxation allowing the muscle to release little by little in addition to releasing toxins, this is one of the favorite massages of athletes especially those who practice sports that often tense the muscles, such as cycling, martial arts, soccer, climbing, even by those who go to the gym among others.
- Sports massages This type of massage is the most recommended for those athletes who suffer from muscle pain due to an injury suffered, they are massages that are characterized by being long, as they can last between 60 or more than 90 minutes, they are very specific massages that focus on the affected area.
- Therapeutic massage Massages of this type are perfect for treating those muscle pains produced especially by tension since they are accompanied by essential oils, relaxing music and in environments that help release all kinds of tension and are perfect for controlling problems of anxiety, depression or stress that are often the main causes of muscle pain due to tension.
Massages are usually the main alternative used in terms of muscle pain, so it has been shown to be one of the most effective tools when it comes to reducing pain, especially in cases where the pain is caused by tension or overload.
- THERAPIES
Another of the most common alternatives recommended by doctors is to attend therapies, generally these are recommended when the pain is so constant that it must be treated daily for a long time, in the vast majority of therapies are usually done at home and it is uncommon that some type of medical accompaniment is required during the process. The therapies that we will mention below are usually the easy, common and even most helpful, which is why they are the most applied to high-performance athletes.
- Cold – heat therapies: This is one of the most well-known therapies by all, it is part of the cultural knowledge in terms of injuries, it is widely used by athletes, workers or ordinary people who for one or more reasons come to suffer from pain, the therapy is simple, it consists of heat and cold shocks as far as the person can bear are interspersed in ranges of seconds and after a certain time the person will tend to feel better the affected area.
- Shock waves It is one of the most effective therapies in terms of muscle contracture treatment, they are performed for about 15 minutes in the affected area, in addition to this, they must be complemented with manual therapy or massages and stretching exercises, shockwave therapy is undoubtedly one of the most complete and therefore the most efficient.
- Go to the physiotherapist : If the feeling of discomfort becomes greater, the level of discomfort increases to the point where it is not possible for you to continue with your daily life, a good recommendation is to go to a physiotherapist especially if you suffer from diseases such as tendonitis that can be highly painful and affect even more by bad movements that cause some type of muscle inflammation. It is quite likely that the professional will recommend some type of medication, massages and even lymphatic drainage.
Living with pain is not normal, remember that there are many alternatives you can resort to, but above all, consult your doctor and avoid self-medicating in case the pain is too recurrent, prevent you from continuing with your normal pace of life or your mobility is reduced, also remember that your mental health is important, take care of body and mind.
