Muscle Tension and Muscle Pain – Causes and Treatment
Muscle tension is a state in which one or more muscles stay tighter than they need to be and start to hurt. It is often linked to stress, a repetitive posture or overload, and in most people it responds well to physiotherapy.
What muscle tension is
Muscles normally relax once the effort is over. Sometimes, however, some of the fibres stay contracted, circulation in the area is reduced, and you feel tightness, heaviness or pain. This is also how so-called trigger points can form – tender knots within the muscle.
Tension most often affects the neck, shoulders, upper back and lower back, but it can appear in any muscle. The pain can sometimes be felt elsewhere – for example, tension in the neck may trigger a headache. Symptoms often get worse with stress, lack of sleep or long periods in one position.
In most people muscle tension is temporary and improves with suitable movement, relaxation and therapy. If it keeps coming back, it is worth looking for the reason – weakness, poor posture or overload – so that it does not return.
Common causes
- prolonged sitting or a repetitive posture
- emotional stress and tension
- sudden or excessive physical effort
- poor mobility and weak muscles
- lack of sleep and rest
- cold, draughts or insufficient warm-up before sport
How it feels
- a feeling of tightness and hardness in the muscle
- dull or pulling pain
- tender spots when pressed
- reduced range of movement
- muscle spasm or cramp
- the area tires quickly
How we can help
We start with a thorough assessment to find which muscles are tense and why. We use manual therapy, therapeutic massage, dry needling and cupping to relax the muscles and trigger points, and where needed Theragun, laser, shockwave therapy or ultrasound. We add therapeutic exercise and advice to help prevent the tension from coming back.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the pain is very severe and sudden, follows an injury, or comes with fever, swelling, redness, numbness or weakness. Seek urgent help for chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw. It is also wise to get checked if symptoms do not settle after a few weeks.
This page is for information only and does not replace an assessment by a specialist.