Three ways to treat muscular pain

Posted on: 23 May 2016

Muscle injuries are surprisingly common; they can be caused by any number of things, but are usually the result of a strenuous workout, physical tension or chronic stress. If after visiting your GP and following their treatment plan, you're still struggling with this issue, here are a few options which could help to relieve your pain.  

Get a massage

If you're experiencing persistent muscular pain, you might want to book an appointment with a local remedial massage therapist. Many people dismiss the use of massages for medical issues, believing them to be helpful only for relaxation purposes. However, whilst they can be useful when it comes to relieving stress, they can also be effective in treating muscle pain. Remedial massage is the most frequently-used method for this type of problem. A therapist trained in this particular approach works with both the muscular and connective tissues, using their hands to stretch out the muscles and manipulate the tendons, ligaments and cartilage in order to ease or resolve injuries. 

Try acupuncture

Acupuncture can be used to treat many types of health conditions, including muscular problems. During a treatment session, the acupuncturist inserts extremely thin needles into specific areas of the body (referred to as 'meridian points'). This is said to trigger the production of the body's natural analgesics, endorphins and thus help to ease the patient's pain. Although it is not a permanent solution to muscle injury, this therapy can be a useful addition to your pain-management arsenal.

Go to a yoga class

For those suffering from soreness because of stress-induced muscle tension, yoga may help. This type of exercise gently stretches and lengthens the muscles, offering almost instant relief from the aching pain that chronic tension causes. The breathing exercises that accompany yoga postures can also be beneficial for calming both the mind and the body; learning how to manage your stress with these techniques could help to prevent the recurrence of this type of muscle tension in the future. There are several different branches of yoga to choose from - if your soreness is quite intense, then for one of the gentler varieties such as Hatha might be the most suitable. Whilst you can find yoga tutorials online, if you are already in pain, it is best to do this exercise under the supervision of a qualified yoga teacher, as attempting to do postures without the guidance of a professional could exacerbate your existing health issues. 

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