Muscle aches are extremely common. Almost everyone has experienced discomfort in their muscles at some point. Because there’s muscle tissue in nearly all parts of the body, this type of pain can be felt practically anywhere. However, there’s no single cause for muscle aches and pains.
While overuse or injury is common, there are other possible explanations for ongoing discomfort.
What are the most common causes of muscle aches?
Muscle tension in one or more areas of the body, overusing the muscle during physical activity, injuring the muscle while engaging in physically demanding work or exercise, skipping warm-ups and cool downs.
What types of medical conditions can cause muscle pain?
Not all muscle aches are related to stress, tension, and physical activity. Some medical explanations include: fibromyalgia, especially if aches and pains last longer than 3 months, chronic fatigue syndrome, infections, such as the flu, polio, or bacterial infections, use of certain medications or drugs, such as statins, ACE inhibitors, or cocaine.
Easing muscle aches at home
Muscle aches often respond well to home treatment. Some measures you can take to relieve muscle discomfort from injuries and overuse include: resting the area of the body where you’re experiencing aches and pains, taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as topical pain relief, applying ice to the affected area to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
You should use ice for 1 to 3 days following a strain or sprain, and apply heat for any pain that remains after 3 days.