Muscle pain is a major issue in the world today. According to a 2017 Global Burden of Disease study, musculoskeletal conditions were the main contributor to disability worldwide. 64 million adults said their condition impacted their daily lives. Muscle pain also has a large impact on the economy. Many U.S. workers are affected by musculoskeletal disorders. Back pain alone leads to 264 million lost workdays each year. That’s an average of 12 missed workdays per person. Half of American adults have musculoskeletal conditions, which costs $214 billion per year in care and lost wages. Hurt muscles can be attributed to a variety of factors. Desk jobs and the workplace are the leading causes of muscle aches.

How Muscle Pain Happens

How do we hurt our muscles? Everyday causes of muscle strain include fatigue, overuse, misuse, and accidents. Activities such as sitting at a desk may lead to biomechanical instability, muscle tightness, and pain, which causes stress to the body. Traumatic accidents and injuries such as falls and car accidents can injure muscles, causing weakness and pain. 1 in 4 American seniors fall each year. Among adults 65 years or older, falls are the leading cause of hospital admissions. Also, overuse of muscles can lead to musculoskeletal issues. Repetitive activities like typing or heavy lifting can lead to muscle tightness and pain. Overuse most often affects the back, wrists, and hands. While musculoskeletal disorders commonly affect working adults, they can affect people of all ages. 

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries include sudden pain, soreness, swelling, tightness, limited range of motion, stiffness, spasms, or weakness. Muscle injuries should be addressed when you are experiencing a limited range of motion because it is a sign of weakness. After an injury, muscle weakness can lead to dysfunction, which is the root cause of muscle tightness and pain. Even minor muscle issues can lead to long-term injuries. Stress, trauma, and overuse can cause prolonged muscle inflammation and pain, which can lead to progressive weakness, increased susceptibility to injury, and degenerating strength and dexterity. Although some issues can start small, it’s important to get the proper treatment before they become worse.

Three possible solutions to muscle pain include physical therapy, massage, and muscle activation techniques (MAT). For some injuries, physical therapy can be as effective as surgery, preventing unnecessary operations. Massaging can also provide benefits to the muscles. A 2015 study found that massaged muscles had a higher blood vessel count than non-massaged ones, and blood vessels are thought to be connected to improved pain recovery. MAT is a powerful muscular assessment tool that analyzes and corrects muscular imbalances.

85% of patients report positive results with MAT. They focus on the cause of pain by testing, correcting, and maintaining muscle contractile efficiency. They believe that flexibility is a derivative of strength, and that muscle tightness is secondary to muscle weakness. MAT works to improve muscle stability and strength to optimize muscle function by analyzing the range of motion to pinpoint muscle function, using muscle-specific palpation to activate dysfunctional muscles, and implementing position-specific isometrics to improve muscle function.