If the cause of your muscle pain is unknown or you experience severe or chronic muscle pain, doctors may order additional tests.

These treatment options can help you manage temporary muscle pain and facilitate a faster recovery. If the pain persists or intensifies, seek medical attention for an additional assessment and suitable treatment plan.

Muscle Pain Muscle pain , also known as myalgia, can be caused by injuries, infectious diseases, or other health issues. Symptoms Muscle soreness Muscle cramps Muscle spasms Joint pain When to see a doctor Seek medical attention if you develop fever, chest pain , muscle weakness , numbness, loss of bladder control, or worsening pain.

Causes Autoimmune diseases, e. Viral and bacterial infections can cause achy muscles, accompanied by fever, nausea, or swollen lymph nodes. Muscle overuse injuries cause back and abdominal strains, myofascial pain syndrome, tendinitis, or tendinosis.

Medications and therapies such as statins which help lower your cholesterol levels, angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors for hypertension, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy can cause short-term and long-term muscle pain. The medications may cause myositis and trigger muscle pain receptors.

Neuromuscular disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy SMA , myasthenia gravis MG , Duchenne muscular dystrophy DMD , and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS Other health conditions include stress , electrolyte imbalance, peripheral artery disease, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia , compartment syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, sarcomas, and leukemia.

Diagnosis If the cause of your muscle pain is unknown or you experience severe or chronic muscle pain, doctors may order additional tests. Blood tests can help determine your enzyme, hormone, and electrolyte levels and check for signs of infections.

CT scan or MRI can identify muscle damage. Electromyography EMG can measure the electrical activity in nerves and muscles and evaluate nerve and muscle function.

Muscle biopsy. These additional tests can help your doctor make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Treatment Temporary muscle pain can usually be relieved by resting, stretching, or taking pain relievers. Rest and elevate the affected area to reduce the strain. If a person is experiencing stiffness after an insect bite or sting, they should speak to a medical professional, especially if they have allergy symptoms.

People should always speak to a doctor about any bothersome side effects of medications they are taking, including muscle stiffness. It is important for a person to tell the doctor about all the symptoms they have, not just muscle stiffness, in order to get an accurate diagnosis.

If muscle stiffness is a symptom of an underlying condition, a person will work with their doctor to make a treatment plan. A doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and discomfort.

Over-the-counter painkillers usually work for pain relief, although stronger medications may be prescribed if necessary. If a medication is causing stiffness, a doctor may be able to adjust the dose or prescribe an alternative. For most cases of muscle stiffness, there are some simple home remedies for relief.

These include:. There are also some simple changes people can make to their lifestyle to prevent getting muscle stiffness. Staying hydrated and eating a varied, nutritious diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and can also help reduce the chance of muscle stiffness.

To stay hydrated, a person should drink plain water every day, try herbal teas, or add fruit slices to sparkling water. Research has shown a link between muscle stiffness and dehydration , so a person should take breaks and stay hydrated while exercising.

Muscle stiffness will usually go away on its own in a few days. In chronic or recurrent cases, making simple lifestyle changes may help treat and prevent muscle stiffness. If muscle stiffness is a symptom of a more serious underlying condition, the outlook will vary depending on the cause.

A person should speak to their doctor if they are concerned about unexplainable or long-term muscle stiffness. Read on for why sore muscles happen plus some treatments…. Anyone can get a muscle strain. In this article, we look at how to identify a muscle strain and how to treat it at home.

We also discuss when to see a…. Oblique muscle pain is typically a sign of injury to the oblique, or side, muscles.

Learn more here. Muscle pain following spinal fusion surgery is typical. This is generally due to the way the surgery is performed. Various types of musculoskeletal pain can affect the muscles, bones, joints, and surrounding tissue. It can be mild or intense and can occur because…. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health?

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What causes muscle soreness and stiffness? Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Causes Seeing a doctor Treatments Prevention Outlook Muscle stiffness is when the muscles feel tight and difficult to move, particularly after resting.

Share on Pinterest Alongside sprains and strains, exercise or physical stress may cause muscle stiffness. Share on Pinterest Insect bites or stings may cause muscle stiffness, especially if they become infected.

When to see a doctor. Treatment and home remedies. Share on Pinterest Regular exercise, alongside stretching and warming up before exercise, may help to prevent muscle stiffness. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.

The first priority will be to treat the primary condition. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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Myositis is a chronic, progressive, and inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness and skin rashes. It's a rare disease that is difficult to…. Yoga combines breathing exercises, meditation, and poses that are proven to benefit mental and physical health.

This article lists 16 evidence-based…. A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. This usually occurs as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper…. Hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy.

It offers a number of health benefits, in addition to relieving muscle tension and pain. Learn more. Stretching before you run can help prevent injury.

Learn about the most crucial muscle areas for runners, along with stretches to keep them healthy. As cold plunge therapy continues to rise in popularity, so does the number of available cold tub options.

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How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What You Need to Know About Muscle Aches and Pains. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Common causes Other causes Home remedies When to see a doctor Prevention Summary. How we vet brands and products Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

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Read more about our vetting process. Was this helpful? What are the most common causes of muscle aches? What types of medical conditions can cause muscle pain?

Easing muscle aches at home. When to see a doctor about muscle aches. Tips for preventing sore muscles. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

A sprain is when the ligaments have been stretched, twisted, or torn. The ligaments are the bands of tissue around the joints that connect the bones together. Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness. It usually affects the upper body, including the shoulders, neck, and arms.

It also commonly affects the hips. The average age of a person with polymyalgia rheumatica is 70, and some people do not develop it until they reach their 80s.

What causes the condition is unknown. Insect bites and stings can sometimes cause muscle stiffness. Bites or stings may also cause a red, swollen lump on the skin, which can be itchy and painful. Symptoms of a bite or sting will usually improve within a few days, but some people have allergic reactions that may require medical attention.

Stiffness after an insect bite can also be associated with more serious conditions, such as Lyme disease , malaria , or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These conditions will also cause other symptoms, such as fever and malaise.

Some medications can cause muscle stiffness. Muscle stiffness is a common side effect of statins, or drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol. Anesthetics used before surgery can also cause a person to experience muscle stiffness during the hours and days that follow.

Most cases of muscle stiffness will go away on their own or with the aid of home remedies, but prolonged or frequent stiffness can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition.

If someone is experiencing muscle stiffness along with additional symptoms, such as fever, pain, dark urine, or swelling, they should speak to a doctor. If a person is experiencing stiffness after an insect bite or sting, they should speak to a medical professional, especially if they have allergy symptoms.

People should always speak to a doctor about any bothersome side effects of medications they are taking, including muscle stiffness. It is important for a person to tell the doctor about all the symptoms they have, not just muscle stiffness, in order to get an accurate diagnosis.

If muscle stiffness is a symptom of an underlying condition, a person will work with their doctor to make a treatment plan. A doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and discomfort. Over-the-counter painkillers usually work for pain relief, although stronger medications may be prescribed if necessary.

If a medication is causing stiffness, a doctor may be able to adjust the dose or prescribe an alternative. For most cases of muscle stiffness, there are some simple home remedies for relief. These include:. There are also some simple changes people can make to their lifestyle to prevent getting muscle stiffness.

Staying hydrated and eating a varied, nutritious diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and can also help reduce the chance of muscle stiffness. To stay hydrated, a person should drink plain water every day, try herbal teas, or add fruit slices to sparkling water.

Research has shown a link between muscle stiffness and dehydration , so a person should take breaks and stay hydrated while exercising.

Muscle stiffness will usually go away on its own in a few days. In chronic or recurrent cases, making simple lifestyle changes may help treat and prevent muscle stiffness. If muscle stiffness is a symptom of a more serious underlying condition, the outlook will vary depending on the cause.

A person should speak to their doctor if they are concerned about unexplainable or long-term muscle stiffness.

Read on for why sore muscles happen plus some treatments…. Anyone can get a muscle strain. In this article, we look at how to identify a muscle strain and how to treat it at home. We also discuss when to see a…. Oblique muscle pain is typically a sign of injury to the oblique, or side, muscles.

Learn more here. Muscle pain following spinal fusion surgery is typical. This is generally due to the way the surgery is performed. Various types of musculoskeletal pain can affect the muscles, bones, joints, and surrounding tissue.

A strain is when the muscle fibers are stretched or torn. Strains are particularly common in the legs and lower back. A sprain is when the ligaments have been stretched, twisted, or torn. The ligaments are the bands of tissue around the joints that connect the bones together. Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness.

It usually affects the upper body, including the shoulders, neck, and arms. It also commonly affects the hips. The average age of a person with polymyalgia rheumatica is 70, and some people do not develop it until they reach their 80s.

What causes the condition is unknown. Insect bites and stings can sometimes cause muscle stiffness. Bites or stings may also cause a red, swollen lump on the skin, which can be itchy and painful. Symptoms of a bite or sting will usually improve within a few days, but some people have allergic reactions that may require medical attention.

Stiffness after an insect bite can also be associated with more serious conditions, such as Lyme disease , malaria , or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These conditions will also cause other symptoms, such as fever and malaise. Some medications can cause muscle stiffness.

Muscle stiffness is a common side effect of statins, or drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol. Anesthetics used before surgery can also cause a person to experience muscle stiffness during the hours and days that follow.

Most cases of muscle stiffness will go away on their own or with the aid of home remedies, but prolonged or frequent stiffness can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition. If someone is experiencing muscle stiffness along with additional symptoms, such as fever, pain, dark urine, or swelling, they should speak to a doctor.

If a person is experiencing stiffness after an insect bite or sting, they should speak to a medical professional, especially if they have allergy symptoms. People should always speak to a doctor about any bothersome side effects of medications they are taking, including muscle stiffness.

It is important for a person to tell the doctor about all the symptoms they have, not just muscle stiffness, in order to get an accurate diagnosis.

If muscle stiffness is a symptom of an underlying condition, a person will work with their doctor to make a treatment plan. A doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and discomfort.

Over-the-counter painkillers usually work for pain relief, although stronger medications may be prescribed if necessary. If a medication is causing stiffness, a doctor may be able to adjust the dose or prescribe an alternative.

For most cases of muscle stiffness, there are some simple home remedies for relief. These include:. There are also some simple changes people can make to their lifestyle to prevent getting muscle stiffness.

Staying hydrated and eating a varied, nutritious diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and can also help reduce the chance of muscle stiffness. To stay hydrated, a person should drink plain water every day, try herbal teas, or add fruit slices to sparkling water. Research has shown a link between muscle stiffness and dehydration , so a person should take breaks and stay hydrated while exercising.

Muscle stiffness will usually go away on its own in a few days. In chronic or recurrent cases, making simple lifestyle changes may help treat and prevent muscle stiffness.

If muscle stiffness is a symptom of a more serious underlying condition, the outlook will vary depending on the cause. A person should speak to their doctor if they are concerned about unexplainable or long-term muscle stiffness.

Read on for why sore muscles happen plus some treatments…. Anyone can get a muscle strain. In this article, we look at how to identify a muscle strain and how to treat it at home. We also discuss when to see a….

Oblique muscle pain is typically a sign of injury to the oblique, or side, muscles. Learn more here. Muscle pain following spinal fusion surgery is typical. It can be sign that you really pushed yourself in gym or in your sport.

But muscle soreness isn't necessarily a sure sign something good is happening in your body. Instead, it appears to be the result of small tears in muscle fiber that combine with an inflammatory process to result in pain. This kind of pain is what you get when you've really pushed your limits, maybe even with an exercise or sport that you haven't done before.

It often happens with "activities that involve muscle and tendon lengthening while a person simultaneously tries to contract the muscle," says Dr.

This can be anything from squats to running. If you're feeling like you have a heavy onset of DOMS, you're probably struggling with a handful of symptoms.

Not only are your muscles aching, you're probably feeling weak, having issues speeding up repetitive motions, and feeling stiff in your joints. Clearly, not the most comfortable state to be in. Don't stress— there are several tips and tricks below to help you recover quicker and get you back to normal.

Spending some time cooling down makes your muscles recovery-ready. A study on active recovery found that runners who spent time at a 50 percent decrease in activity at the end of their workout instead of resting completely were able to go three times longer the second time they ran.

The researchers believe it had to do with better blood flow, which reduced blood lactate the metabolic byproduct that makes your muscles sore. Tart cherry juice is loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.

A study found that long distance runners who drank tart cherry juice for eight days reported decreased muscle pain.

However, particularly in the case of tart cherry extract, one should be aware of the significant sugar content that could be present," says Dr. It may seem obvious, but massages can help get rid of sore muscles. There's a little research—a study found that a post-exercise massage significantly reduces pain by reducing the release of cytokines, compounds that cause inflammation in the body.

At the same time, massage stimulated mitochondria in cells, promoting cell function and repair. Yet, there's not a huge volume of additional research. You may have long heard that an ice bath is the best way to recover from a long run, but experts say to skip cold therapy and opt for something warm and comforting.

Foam rolling on sore muscles can make grown men cry, but it seriously helps repair your muscles. A study found that 20 minutes of foam rolling on a high-density foam roller immediately following exercise and 24 hours after may reduce muscle tenderness and decrease the impact on one's dynamic movements.

Don't have one? Check out our best foam roller picks. It sounds simple, but hitting the sack can often be exactly what your sore muscles need. The direct scientific link between sleep and post-exercise recovery remains somewhat fuzzy, although it could be strongly argued that that's because sleep involves a multitude of physiological functions that aren't always easy to clearly define and separate.

We do know, however, that a lack of sleep can contribute to higher levels of inflammation. Inflammation may not be a factor in DOMS in particular, but it does contribute to some muscle soreness—and getting serious rest can help alleviate that.

Your post-lift protein shake does more than just refuel your muscles. A study found that protein aided in the recovery of muscle function in the 24 hours following a workout filled with eccentric contractions which generally happen in most strength-based workouts.

And adding antioxidants to that meal improved the recovery from those workouts even more. So aim to load up on protein think chicken or fish and antioxidant-rich foods think pomegranates and kale in the hours after a tough workout, and watch your recovery times drop.

Massage guns are one of the hottest products on the recovery tool market right now. For good reason, too—if you don't have the funds to get a full on massage every week, having this handy will allow you to save money and still reap the benefits. Need some suggestions on what's worth your money and what's not?