Muscle Pain: what it is and how we help

Muscle pain at a glance

Muscle pain, or myalgia, is usually caused by tension, overuse or minor injury, and most of it settles within days to a few weeks. Persistent or widespread muscle pain can be linked to stress, poor sleep, low vitamin D, medication or conditions such as fibromyalgia, so it is worth looking at the wider picture if it keeps coming back.

Symptoms of muscle pain

• Aching, tightness or knots in the neck, shoulders, back or legs
• Pain after exercise that peaks one to two days later
• Tender points and reduced flexibility
• Cramps and spasms

What causes muscle pain?

Common causes include overuse, a sudden increase in training, poor posture and long hours at a desk, stress and muscle guarding, dehydration, strains and minor tears. Less often it is caused by statins, low vitamin D, thyroid problems or viral illness.

How is muscle pain treated?

Most muscle pain responds to gentle movement, heat, stretching and a gradual return to activity. Persistent pain benefits from assessment to find the driver. For common causes and relief, see why your muscles ache.

Muscle pain treatment in Chiswick, London

• Manual therapy and massage: deep tissue and sports massage for tension and knots, from £65 for 30 minutes.
• Physiotherapy: finding the cause and building strength so pain does not return. Initial assessment and treatment £99.
• Red light therapy: NovoTHOR sessions used in elite sport for muscle recovery, £70 for 20 minutes.
• Acupuncture: for muscle tension and trigger points. Traditional acupuncture £80.
• Compression therapy: Body Ballancer sessions for recovery and heavy legs, from £45 for 30 minutes.

Physiotherapy at Omnia is recognised by AXA Health, Aviva, WPA and Vitality, and you can see every price on our fees page.

What does the evidence say?

Massage reduces delayed onset muscle soreness and helps recovery. Photobiomodulation has evidence for reducing muscle soreness and improving recovery after exercise. Strengthening prevents recurrence.

Why do my muscles ache for no reason?

Muscle aches without an obvious cause are often linked to stress and tension, poor sleep, a recent viral illness, dehydration or a change in activity you may not have noticed. Low vitamin D, an underactive thyroid and some medicines, such as statins, can also cause aching. Aches that persist for weeks or come with weakness should be checked by a GP.

What is DOMS?

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the stiffness and tenderness that starts 12 to 24 hours after unfamiliar or hard exercise and peaks at around 24 to 72 hours. It is a normal response and settles on its own within a few days. Gentle movement, massage and sleep help, and it becomes less severe as your body adapts to training.

Muscle knots and trigger points

Many people feel tender, tight spots in the neck, shoulders and back, often called knots. They are areas of sensitive, tense muscle rather than actual knots, and they can refer pain to nearby areas. Massage, heat, stretching and addressing posture and stress usually ease them.

What to expect at Omnia

We ask where and when the pain started, about your work, training, sleep and stress, and any medicines you take, then assess the muscles and how you move. Treatment may combine massage, physiotherapy exercises and red light therapy, and we suggest blood tests, such as vitamin D (£61) or thyroid (£57), or a GP review if a medical cause is possible.

What you can do at home

• Keep moving gently rather than resting completely
• Use heat and gentle stretching
• Build training loads gradually
• Read deep tissue vs sports massage

Related: sprains and strains.

Muscle pain is treated at Omnia Lifestyle, 8 to 9 Bedford Corner, The Avenue, Chiswick W4 1LZ, close to Turnham Green station, on bus routes 94, E3 and 272. Limited parking is available on request when booking. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.