Myalgia, or muscle pain, can be caused by injury or disease. Symptoms include tenderness, trigger points, and widespread pain. Prevention includes stretching and rest, while treatment includes heat, compression, and rehabilitation exercises. Myalgia caused by disease can have additional symptoms and may require medical attention.
Myalgia, or muscle pain, is an indication of an underlying muscle injury or disease. If the pain is coming from overstretched or injured muscles, the area around the muscle will be tender to touch. Some diseases also cause myalgia and produce a wide range of myalgia symptoms. Treatment methods depend on the cause of myalgia.
Symptoms of myalgia caused by muscle strain come on quickly. Injured muscles have certain trigger points that give off pain when stimulated, usually by contact. Active trigger points are areas where the muscle is inflamed and extremely tender. Latent trigger points are areas where the torn muscle only causes pain when used in a certain way. These symptoms subside within a week if the muscle is not completely torn. If muscle pain persists for more than a week, it could be an indication of a major injury or condition.
Stretching before engaging in physical activity can prevent this form of myalgia by making sure the muscles are loose; Sufficient rest periods during strenuous physical activity also prevent injuries from overuse. If the signs of myalgia have already occurred, heat and compression can provide relief. Massaging the injured area with warm mustard oil will also help relieve muscle tension. Additionally, some plyometric exercises can rehabilitate the muscle and minimize atrophy. An extended break involving limited use of the muscle may be required to ensure proper healing.
In situations where myalgia symptoms are present despite no direct trauma to the muscle, the cause may be a virus or other underlying disease. Unlike the symptoms caused by an injury to a muscle, those caused by the disease are usually more widespread; a viral muscle infection can cause pain in different muscle groups throughout the body if left untreated. The diseases also cause other signs of myalgia. The muscles can become inflamed, causing a sore throat, limited movement and difficulty breathing, depending on the disease and its location in the body. Headache and abdominal pain are also possible symptoms. Finally, people with myalgia may feel tired and experience increased irritability.
A long period of myalgia symptoms may require immediate medical attention, especially if the pain resides around the heart; myalgia can interfere with the heart rate of the afflicted and cause cardiac arrest. Remedies for myalgia caused by muscle injury also provide relief from myalgia caused by infection.
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