Muscle pain is a nonspecific pain syndrome, which in medicine is called myalgia (myos – muscle, algos – pain). Pain can occur independently, spontaneously, or under objective circumstances – palpation, physical stress.

The etiology and pathogenesis of myalgia is still a field of study; a single, generally accepted hypothesis does not exist today.

However, some types and localizations of muscle pain have been studied quite well and are pathogenetically explained by insufficient permeability of the cell membranes of muscle tissue, as well as inflammatory processes in it. Muscle pain can develop in people, regardless of age and gender, its clinical manifestations are associated with the etiological factor and the area of ​​localization. There are three types of myalgia, which are defined as independent nosologies and are recorded in the classification:

  • Fibromyalgia – fibromyalgia. This is a chronic syndrome when extra-articular muscle tissues are affected; the pain is diffuse and localized at trigger points. Diagnosis of such muscle pain is extremely difficult due to the nonspecificity of the symptoms; fibromyalgia is differentiated from other pain syndromes if the symptoms do not subside within 3 months, and segmental palpation identifies at least 11 pain trigger zones out of 18 typical ones established as diagnostic parameters
  • Myositis – myositis. This is muscle pain of an inflammatory nature; it can also occur as a result of injury or intoxication of the body. Inflammation of skeletal muscle tissue varies in symptoms, but there are specific differences – increased pain during movement, gradual limitation of joint activity and atrophy of muscle tissue
  • Dermatomyositis – DM or dermatomyositis, less often – polymyositis. The disease is associated with systemic pathologies of muscle and connective tissue, belongs to the group of inflammatory myositis, is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and is most often accompanied by focal rashes on the skin. The chronic course of dermatomyositis, polymyositis leads to total impairment of movements, damage to internal organs (heart, lungs)

Muscle pain can also be a symptom of epidemic myalgia – Bornholm disease, a disease of viral etiology (Coxsackie virus). There are also forms of myalgia that are not accompanied by organic changes in muscle tissue and dysfunction in the joints, are volatile, transient in nature and do not have visible objective symptoms manifested clinically. These vague myofascial manifestations still remain a poorly understood phenomenon; most often they are associated with psychogenic factors.

In the international classification of diseases, ICD-10, myalgia is recorded within class XIII (diseases of the muscular system and connective tissue) and group M70-M79.

Causes of muscle pain

The etiology of muscle pain has long been the subject of study by many specialists; reviews on this controversial issue have been published for two centuries, but the problem of a single etiological basis for myalgia still remains unresolved. Moreover, apart from the unspecified etiopathogenesis, there is no consensus on terminology and classification, and accordingly, diagnosis is difficult.

A typical example is fibromyalgia and MFPS – myofascial pain syndrome, which are often confused with each other due to the unclear etiological cause of the disease. The symptoms of muscle pain are multivariate; it is extremely difficult to determine the nosological affiliation of the syndrome, since it is characteristic of a whole list of systemic, neurological, endocrine, infectious, rheumatic and other pathologies. It should be noted that according to recent scientific research, the relationship between muscle pain and the somatic nervous and autonomic systems, which form pain irritation, has been established.

If we take as a basis the versions used by practicing doctors, then the causes of muscle pain are provoked by the following conditions, diseases and objective factors:

  • Infectious diseases of the body.
  • Systemic, autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatism.
  • Violation of various levels of metabolism.
  • Professional factors (static poses, mechanical rhythmic movements, sports training, and so on).

A more specific list of causes of myalgia, proposed by the International Association of Rheumatologists, looks like this:

  • Neurogenic myopathies, when muscle pain is a symptom of neuralgia and can be considered secondary.
  • Excessive tension of skeletal muscles – SOMB (delayed onset muscle pain syndrome), sore throat. The syndrome is associated with intense physical activity.
  • Sprained ligaments, muscles, tendons.
  • Trauma (closed, open).
  • The effect of intoxication, including drugs. Medicines that cause muscle pain – narcotic drugs, medications that lower blood pressure, statins that regulate cholesterol levels.
  • Vascular pathology.
  • Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.
  • Inborn error of metabolism.
  • Chronic infectious diseases.
  • Congenital anatomical deformities.

Infectious pathologies, infectious myositis, provoked by such pathologies:

  • Malaria.
  • Flu.
  • Lyme disease.
  • Dengue fever.
  • Infectious muscle abscess.
  • Hemorrhagic fever.
  • Poliomyelitis.
  • Trichinosis.
  • Meningitis.
  • Endocrine pathologies.
  • Skeletal muscle necrosis.
  • Violation of water-electrolyte metabolism.
  • Dysfunctions of the autonomic nervous system.
  • Rheumatic pathologies – systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis, Still’s disease, Wegener’s granulomatosis.
  • Parasitic invasion of muscles.
  • CFS – chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Post-operative muscle pain (scar tightening).

In addition, the causes of muscle pain can be due to a number of psychogenic factors, which are considered the most problematic in a diagnostic sense.

Muscle pain during pregnancy

Throughout the entire period of pregnancy, not only the muscles, but also other systems and organs of the expectant mother undergo changes that are quite understandable from the point of view of the physiology of the gestation process. One of the causes of pain, in addition to the purely anatomical (due to stretching), is the effect of progesterone on the cell membranes of skeletal muscles. The concentration of progesterone decreases after the 20th week of pregnancy, then muscle pain subsides slightly, and residual effects are associated with the body preparing for labor.

Muscle pain during pregnancy primarily affects the abdominal area, abdominal muscles and pelvic muscles. The rectus muscles, the muscles that hold the abdominals, change their task, now they must support the growing uterus. Skeletal muscles also undergo changes, as not only does a woman’s weight increase, but her posture also changes. The back bends forward, the leg muscles hurt, especially in the calves. Almost all smooth muscles are involved in the transformation process, so those who have prior preparation, training, and those who have previously been involved in sports or fitness endure the period of gestation much easier.

It is no coincidence that doctors recommend that expectant mothers perform daily muscle strengthening exercises; exercises that help increase the elasticity of ligaments (stretches) are especially useful; it is also important to strengthen the pelvic muscles, which are directly involved in childbirth and are often injured if they have not been properly prepared. To prevent pain in the calf muscles, so characteristic of pregnancy, you should regularly take special vitamin complexes containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins E, D, A, K. Back pain is prevented by gymnastics that strengthens the muscles in this area (muscle corset) . You should also train the muscles of the vagina and groin muscles, since childbirth can provoke traumatic stretching of them, leading to complications, including situational enuresis (when coughing, laughing). Preventing pain in the chest muscles will help avoid stretch marks and minimize the risk of loss of shape of the mammary glands. Currently, there are many special courses that help pregnant women learn to manage their muscle tone in order to avoid pain during pregnancy, as well as to prepare the whole body for a painless birth.

Child has muscle pain

Most often, a child’s muscle pain is associated with the so-called “disease” of growth, that is, the symptom is caused by a completely normal, natural process of growing up. Some children do not feel discomfort associated with growth at all, while others react quite painfully. The etiology of myalgia in children is not fully understood, but the generally accepted version is a discrepancy between the rates of growing bone and muscle-ligamentous systems. The skeleton grows faster, tendons and muscle tissue do not have time to adapt to the speed and intensity of growth.

Of course, this explanation is extremely simplified; in fact, in a child’s body everything is more complicated. It is believed that muscle pain in a child is associated with hidden congenital or acquired chronic pathologies. The most common muscle pain symptom is in children aged 3,5-10 years; adolescents also suffer from myalgia, but it has a more precise etiological cause.

Muscle pain can be a symptom of an underlying disease, or less often it is an independent condition.

List of factors and conditions that cause reversible muscle pain in a child:

  • Cramps, which may be a consequence of “growing pains” or caused by a sports injury, bruise, or torn ligaments.
  • The inflammatory process in muscle tissue is myositis, provoked by viral pathologies (influenza, acute respiratory infections), bacterial infection, including parasitic ones. The pain is localized in the large muscles of the body – in the back, shoulders, neck, arm muscles.
  • Dehydration during active physical activity, which is typical for children who are fond of sports games in the hot season. Loss of fluid through sweat leads to a deficiency of magnesium and potassium, and hyperventilation during fast running can lead to cramps in the calf muscles.

In addition, there are a number of serious pathologies that are characterized by muscle pain in children:

  • Duchenne myopathy. This is a pathology diagnosed in boys in early childhood. The disease has a genetic cause – an abnormality of the X chromosome. The consequence is a gene mutation and dystrophin protein deficiency. Pseudohypertrophy develops slowly and gradually affects all skeletal muscles, less often the myocardium. The clinical picture is determined at the age of 3-4 years, when the baby has difficulty climbing stairs and cannot run. The prognosis of the disease is unfavorable.
  • Becker pseudohypertrophy is a disease similar to Duchenne myopathy, but weaker in clinical manifestations and more favorable in course and prognosis.
  • Bornholm’s disease or epidemic myalgia. The disease is viral in nature (Coxsackie virus), develops rapidly, accompanied by severe muscle pain in the chest, less often in the abdomen, back, arms or legs. The disease is diagnosed by specific symptoms – fever, myalgia, vomiting. The pain is paroxysmal, subsides at rest and intensifies with movement. Epidemic myalgia quite often coexists with enteroviral infections, herpes, and serous meningitis.

Fibromyalgia and polymyositis (dermatomyositis) do not occur in children; isolated cases are so rare that they are considered a diagnostic phenomenon or an error.

Thus, unlike adults, 85-90% of muscle pain in children is caused by physiological or situational factors. Such pain can be defined as a curable, reversible symptom. However, if pain prevents the child from moving normally, is accompanied by hyperthermia, visible bodily defects (curvature, protrusion, depression), parents should urgently consult a doctor to examine the child and begin adequate treatment.

Pain in the muscles of the legs

The normal motor activity of the human body depends on the elasticity of muscle tissue and the ligamentous apparatus of the lower extremities. The muscular system of the legs can be divided into limb muscles and pelvic muscles. The hip joint moves thanks to the piriformis, iliopsoas, gemelli, obturator, gluteus maximus, gluteus minimus, gluteus medius, quadratus, and tensor femoris muscles. The lower limbs move thanks to the muscles of the lower leg, thigh, and foot.

Muscle tissue constantly needs blood supply, including oxygen nutrition, especially the legs, since they bear the entire load of the evolutionary skill – upright walking. The “safest” causes of pain in the leg muscles are physical fatigue, intense sports activities, or forced static stress (monotonous posture, monotonous movements). These types of pain are quite easily relieved with relaxing massages, warm baths, rubbing and simply resting. However, there are more serious factors that provoke pain in the leg muscles:

  • Vascular pathologies – a violation of the outflow of blood, mainly venous, provokes a load on the vascular wall, irritation of the nerve endings, resulting in pain. Arterial insufficiency (claudicatio intermittens) is most often localized in the calves and is expressed in transient pain that subsides with rest or with cooling and light massage. Actually, this is exactly how varicose veins develop. The pain in the muscles is dull, aching in nature, the person constantly complains of “heavy” legs. Similarly, pain in the legs can be caused by atherosclerosis and thrombophlebitis. Pain in such pathologies intensifies with movement and is often localized in the calf muscles. Thrombophlebitis is characterized by throbbing, constant pain that turns into a burning sensation.
  • Pain in the legs, including muscles, can be felt due to various diseases of the spinal column. The nature of the symptom is paroxysmal, shooting, radiating pain, the primary source of which is in the lumbosacral zone.
  • Joint pathologies seem to have nothing to do with muscle tissue, but they are also a common cause of discomfort in the leg muscles. The pain is usually excruciating, “twisting”; pain in the knee area may indicate damage to the cartilage and periarticular muscles.
  • Myositis, which is an independent inflammatory process or a consequence of parasitic invasion. The leg muscles hurt constantly, the aching sensation intensifies when walking or physical activity. Specific inflammatory nodules are clearly palpable in the calf muscles.
  • Convulsions, cramps, the cause of which can be either simple hypothermia or venous congestion of a situational nature (prolonged uncomfortable position, cross-legged position). However, most often, convulsive syndrome and pain in the legs are provoked by vitamin deficiency, micronutrient deficiency, or an underlying chronic disease.
  • Flat feet can also cause constant, dull pain in the leg muscles and a feeling of heaviness in the feet.
  • Overweight, obesity.
  • Fibromyalgia, which has certain pain triggers that are important for differential diagnosis. Some trigger points are located in the hip and knee areas.

Muscle pain in the legs is treated by a traumatologist, surgeon, phlebologist, angiosurgeon, and rheumatologist.

Pain in thigh muscles

The thigh muscles are a type of muscle tissue that, on the one hand, is characterized by increased elasticity and strong structure; on the other hand, pain in the thigh muscles is a direct evidence of increased load on this area of ​​the body. The most common cause of pain in the thigh muscles is considered to be elementary physical overload; the pain can be transient, aching, and even partially limit the movement of the legs. Radiating pain in the groin and down the legs is already a symptom of another pathological factor, for example, osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region, pinched nerve endings, radiculopathy.

The following provoking factors directly relate to myalgia:

  • Water-electrolyte imbalance, which can be caused by dehydration or prolonged use of diuretics. The developing deficiency of calcium (hypocalcemia), potassium (hypokalemia), increased sodium levels (hypernatremia), and acidosis provoke characteristic spasmodic pain (cramps), including in the thigh muscles.
  • Myositis is an inflammatory process in muscle tissue caused by infections – viruses, bacteria, parasites. Inflammation of the thigh muscles can be caused by diabetes, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis). Myositis can also be a consequence of hypothermia, blunt or penetrating trauma. Myositis of the thigh can occur in acute, subacute or chronic form and is expressed in pain, muscle swelling, and rarely, hyperemia of the skin in the affected area.
  • Fibromyalgia rarely manifests itself as pain in the thigh muscles, but diagnostically important trigger points include areas located on the thigh.
  • Soreness or pain caused by exercise. If a person intensively performs certain types of exercises aimed at increasing or, on the contrary, “drying out” the thigh muscles, he may experience post-workout pain. This is due to insufficient preparation for training, poor warming up of the muscles, or excessive load on them.

In addition to physiological, situational reasons, factors provoking pain in the thigh muscles may include the following pathologies:

  • Coxarthrosis of the hip joints, when the articular cartilage undergoes degeneration and wear, the shock-absorbing functions of the joint decrease, nerve endings are pinched, and pain develops, including in the muscles. The pain intensifies when moving, when walking, any sharp turn or bend causes discomfort, often coxarthrosis leads to intermittent claudication.
  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region. This degenerative, systemic disease often manifests itself with pain radiating to the front of the thigh and buttock.
  • Rheumatism. It would seem that rheumatic lesions do not affect the muscle tissue of the thigh at all, but anatomically many zones distant from each other are interconnected due to the ligamentous apparatus and the nervous system. In addition to characteristic joint pain, rheumatism can also clinically manifest itself in pain in the thigh area and muscles.

Calf muscle pain

The muscle of the lower back leg (calf) consists of the gastrocnemius, biceps and soleus muscles. The gastrocnemius is located closer to the surface, the soleus is much deeper, but they both perform the same tasks – they allow the ankle joint to move, help control balance, and provide shock absorption during movement.

The blood supply to the gastrocnemius muscle is provided by a system of arteries starting in the popliteal region, and the muscle also contains many nerve endings extending from the tibial nerve. Such rich nutrition of muscle tissue, on the one hand, helps to perform its functions, on the other hand, it makes the back surface of the leg vulnerable to factors that provoke pain in the calf muscle.

Reasons that cause pain in the musculus gastrocnemius – calf muscle:

  • Chronic venous insufficiency, stagnation of blood flow in the sinuses of the muscle tissue of the leg. The reasons may be due to a violation of the pumping function of the veins of the lower leg (phlebopathy), as well as valvular insufficiency of the deep veins (thrombosis, varicose veins). Severe pain in the calf muscle is also provoked by ischemia of the vascular walls due to excess blood flow with thinned venous walls. The pain is dull, spreading to the calves, and subsides with rest, changing position, or raising the legs up. Chronic venous insufficiency is accompanied by swelling of the lower leg and foot, which increases pain in the calves and even provokes cramps.
  • Acute venous insufficiency caused by deep vein thrombosis. Thrombosis, localized in the lower leg, is accompanied by severe arching pain in the calves of the legs, the pain subsides when the legs are vertical (outflow of blood). Pain occurs exactly in the place where the thrombus is located; the severity and intensity of the pain symptom depends on how widespread the thrombosis is, how many veins it affects.
  • Chronic arterial insufficiency or inflammatory occlusion (blockage) of arteries of atherosclerotic etiology. The calf muscles lack blood supply, and therefore oxygen. As a result, lactate – lactic acid – accumulates in muscle tissue, developing a burning sensation, severe pain and cramps. Also, arterial insufficiency often leads to intermittent claudication, numbness, peeling, keratosis and necrosis of the skin of the feet.
  • Acute arterial insufficiency is direct occlusion of an artery by a thrombus or embolus, causing ischemia of the limb. The pain does not subside even with rest; it can intensify for no apparent reason. The result is loss of sensation in the leg, paralysis of the calf muscle, and contracture.
  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, sciatica, lumbago, pinched nerve is one of the most typical causes of pain in the calf muscle. The pain is radiating in nature due to compression of the nerve endings. As a result, there is a potential threat of muscle dystrophy with the formation of fibrous growths. The pain can be treated with massage, heat, and rubbing.
  • Neuritis nervus tibialis is inflammation of the sacral plexus nerve (tibial nerve). The pain is paroxysmal, spreading along the nerve pathway.
  • Peripheral diabetic polyneuropathy, less often neuropathy is caused by intoxication (poisons, ethyl alcohol). The pain develops at night, at rest, is localized in the calves of the legs, in the arms, and is accompanied by senestopathy, numbness, and muscle weakness. If the autonomic nerve endings are damaged, the pain in the calves may intensify, tissue necrosis and trophic ulcers develop.
  • Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, which is accompanied by characteristic pain in the calf muscles. The pain intensifies with movement, walking, in a static position for a long time, and when climbing up the stairs. Inflammation develops quickly and leads to stiffness of the joint and the entire leg. The calf muscle is very tense, dense and hard on palpation.
  • Polymyositis, dermatomyositis is an inflammatory autoimmune process that results in excruciating, persistent pain in the calves. The legs may swell, and upon palpation of the swollen limbs the pain intensifies, then the muscle tissue thickens and transforms into fibrous tissue.
  • Osteomyelitis, accompanied by very severe pain in both bone tissue and muscles, including the calf.
  • Fibromyalgia is a systemic disease of unknown etiology, for which diagnostic criteria have been defined – 18 trigger points, which include the calf area. A dense nodule can be felt in the area where the pain is concentrated; the leg muscles often weaken; the person describes the sensation as “wooden legs.”
  • Cramps, cramps, which are typical for the calf muscles. A spasm can develop suddenly, without objective reasons, but a spasm can also be a consequence of a certain pathology or a provoking factor (hypothermia, physical overload). Cramps differ from metabolic spasms that develop due to a deficiency of microelements or an imbalance of water-salt balance. Factors that provoke convulsive, spontaneous pain in the calf muscle, cramps, can be myodystrophy, hypothyroidism, uremia, and drug intoxication.
  • Pain in the calves can be a complication after infectious inflammatory pathologies, that is, caused by myositis. It should be noted that myositis can also be an independent disease when inflammation of the muscle tissue develops due to parasitic invasion, injury or overload of the calf muscle.

Muscle pain after exercise

Post-workout pain is typical for beginners; experienced athletes and bodybuilders do not allow their body to experience additional discomfort. Although in any sport there is an unspoken rule “no pain – no gain”, which means without pain there is no growth, in this case, muscle mass, muscles. However, almost all experts paraphrase this expression in this way – “there is no head on your shoulders, there will be pain without growth” and this is true.

Some stiffness, soreness and, accordingly, muscle pain after training are acceptable even for those who have been involved in sports for a long time, especially after intense exercise. The pain is a consequence of microtraumas of muscle tissue, fascia and, as a rule, subsides after 2-3 days. This is considered a valid symptom that is not pathological.

The reasons that provoke “normal” muscle pain after exercise are not fully clarified, but the following versions exist:

  • Microdamage to muscle fibers, which is accompanied by an increased level of cellular elements in the blood. Microtraumas are regenerated within 1-3 days.
  • Accumulation of lactic acid in muscle tissue. This hypothesis was previously extremely popular, but recent studies have proven that metabolic disorders in the form of lactic acidosis persist in the muscles for no more than half an hour, and therefore simply cannot provoke delayed pain after a day or more. Lactic acidosis may cause a burning sensation, but not long-term muscle soreness.
  • The theory about the inflammatory process in muscle tissue, which develops as a result of microdamage to the fibers. According to this version, microtraumas provoke the accumulation of exudate, irritation of nerve endings and pain.
  • The theory of muscle fiber ischemia. Indeed, intense training can disrupt the blood supply to muscles, but it is unlikely that they can provoke tissue ischemia.
  • The real reason that contributes to pain symptoms after training is a real injury – a sprain, rupture of tendons, ligaments. If muscle pain persists for more than three days, there are hematomas, swelling, tumors, painful shooting pains, hyperemia of the skin, it is necessary not only to stop torturing the body with loads, but also to urgently seek medical help.

What do you need to know and do to keep pain after training within normal limits?

  • Be sure to do a warm-up workout.
  • Draw up a load program with the help of a specialist according to anthropometric data and health status.
  • Exercise in a mode of gradually increasing the load, from minimum to ideal maximum.
  • Be sure to take breaks and drink fluids.
  • Eat well.
  • Use relaxing massage techniques.

Muscle pain when walking

Muscle pain that gets worse when walking can be a signal of many chronic or acute diseases, the most common of which are the following:

  • Muscle pain when walking is a direct indication of developing obliterating atherosclerosis. This disease is characterized not only by pain when moving, but also by fatigue, constant muscle weakness, and if left untreated, signs of vasogenic intermittent claudication appear. Most often, men suffer from obliterating atherosclerosis; in women, this condition is diagnosed less frequently. Those who maintain bad habits – smoking, alcohol abuse – develop atherosclerosis 2 times more often. Insufficient blood supply to the legs, stenosis and blockage (occlusion) of arteries and veins leads to a complete obstruction of blood flow. The disease progresses rapidly, the pain is localized in the buttock with damage to the aorta of the iliac region, in the thigh with blockage of the femoral artery, in the foot with damage to the popliteal artery, in the calf muscles with diffuse occlusion of the deep veins and main arteries. Symptoms of obliterating atherosclerosis may also include paresthesia, numbness, and pain at rest.
  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, accompanied by radiculopathy. Inflammation of the nerve roots, provoked by compression, causes severe muscle pain when walking.
  • Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, sciatica. The inflammatory process in the body’s largest nerve can be caused by diabetes, arthritis, injury, degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc, or excessive stress on the spine. The pain intensifies not only when walking, but during reflex movements – coughing, sneezing, laughing.
  • Damage to the femoral nerve, lumbago. The pain is usually sharp, shooting, localized on the front of the thigh, less often in the groin or inside the lower leg. The pain increases with movement, walking, and sitting.
  • Gonarthrosis of the knee joint, often a secondary disease. The pain when walking intensifies when going up, and the pain symptom also increases when bending the knees (squats, kneeling).
  • Developmental anomalies or injuries of the forefoot – osteoarthritis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. Pain when walking is felt in the bone tissue, as well as in the muscles; the symptom may subside at rest or in a horizontal position of the leg.
  • Polyneuropathy, when the pain is felt as burning, pulling, is localized in the feet. The pain may be accompanied by cramps, especially after walking.

Pain in muscles and joints

Pain in muscles and joints – these are musculoskeletal pain or dorsalgia (back pain), thoracalgia (chest pain), cervicalgia (neck pain) and other “algia”. It should be noted that the terminology defining pain in muscles and joints changes periodically in proportion to the emergence of new scientific research results.

In ICD-10, diseases of the musculoskeletal system are classified as class XIII, in addition there is a section describing nonspecific musculoskeletal pain as

an unpleasant, emotional-sensory sensation. According to the classifier, this sensation is caused by real or potentially developing injury, damage to muscle or bone tissue.

The nature and types of pain symptoms related to muscles and joints:

  • Nooceptive (autonomous pain that is not under conscious control).
  • Neuropathic pain.
  • Psychogenic pain.

Obviously, the most realistic in diagnostic terms is nooceptive pain, which is explained by the stimulation of nociceptors located in tissues (visceral and somatic). The most “ephemeral” is psychogenic pain in muscles and joints, since it has no real physical basis.

What causes nonspecific musculoskeletal pain?

  • Microdestruction, damage to muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, joints, bone tissue and periosteum, as well as the intervertebral disc. Damage associated with everyday activities, sports, and so on is not caused by dysfunction of organs and systems.
  • Spastic muscle tension, spasm as a pathophysiological method of protection against destruction.
  • Reversible dysfunctions – dislocations, sprains, ruptures as a result of industrial or household activities.
  • Dystrophic processes associated with age

In a diagnostic sense, nonspecific pain in muscles and joints is a difficult task, since it is necessary to differentiate a somatically localized symptom, reflected (visceral), projection (neuropathic) and other types of clinical manifestations. In addition, pain in muscles and joints is often diagnosed as myofascial syndrome – MPS, which is a type of somatogenic pain symptoms, the source of which is considered not so much joints, but skeletal muscle tissue and adjacent fascia.

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