Condition
Muscle tension and myofascial pain
A painful, tense muscle can make movement difficult and repeatedly demand your attention. Muscle tension does not always have the same cause. We assess what contributes to your symptoms and how movement and activity can fit more comfortably into everyday life again.
What myofascial pain means
The term describes symptoms involving muscles and the connective tissue around them. Pressure-sensitive areas are often called trigger points. Pain may be felt in the affected muscle or in another region. A tender point alone, however, does not automatically explain every symptom.
Considering the wider picture
Unfamiliar activity, repeated tasks, sleep and sustained tension may influence symptoms. We ask about their onset, distribution and triggers, and about previous treatments. The examination assesses movement and tenderness and, depending on the symptoms, strength and sensation.
We also consider other possible causes, such as joint problems or nerve involvement. Pain travelling to another area does not always come from a muscle. Additional imaging or blood tests are useful only when a specific question remains.
What treatment can achieve
A suitable plan often combines manageable movement, a gradual increase in activity and ways of addressing recurring triggers. Heat or a limited course of manual treatment may feel helpful as an addition. They do not automatically replace active measures. What matters is a recognisable benefit in everyday life.
For further procedures, we discuss the reason, realistic limitations and possible risks. The term trigger point does not in itself mean that an injection or a particular self-funded treatment is needed. Lasting relief from every area of muscle tension cannot be promised.
When to seek another assessment
Seek prompt assessment for new marked weakness, persistent altered sensation, fever or rapidly worsening symptoms. Sudden, severe neurological symptoms require immediate help. Do not simply attribute such changes to familiar muscle tension.
For your appointment, note which movements are difficult and which measures have helped so far. Related information is available under “Orthopaedic pain care”, “Neck pain” and “Movement and exercise”.
