Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Muscle Rigidity Feels LikeWhat Causes Muscle Rigidity?When to Contact a Healthcare ProviderHow Is Muscle Rigidity Diagnosed?How Is Muscle Rigidity Treated?Home Remedies for Muscle Rigidity
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Muscle Rigidity Feels Like
What Causes Muscle Rigidity?
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
How Is Muscle Rigidity Diagnosed?
How Is Muscle Rigidity Treated?
Home Remedies for Muscle Rigidity
Muscle rigidity is very common, and it can be uncomfortable. You can have stiff and tense muscles due to various causes—such as sitting or sleeping in the wrong position, or it can be the result of a neurological disease.
You might feel like you have muscle rigidity when you can’t relax your muscles normally. This feeling can affect any muscle in your body. This article covers what you need to know about tense muscles, including how to manage them and when to see a healthcare provider about your symptoms.
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Muscle rigidity can sometimes cause sharp pain that makes it difficult to move. But there are many causes, and muscle rigidity can vary depending on the cause and how long it has lasted.
Here are some ways that people often describe muscle rigidity:
Causes of Muscle Pain
Many different medical conditions can cause muscle stiffness. Sometimes it develops gradually due to long-term medical issues, but it can happen suddenly, such as when it’s the result of an injury.
Muscle rigidity can occur due to muscle damage, nerve damage, or a disruption of neurotransmitter (chemicals that send messages between nerves and muscles) function.Each condition that may lead to muscle rigidity has a different underlying physical process that affects the muscles.
Causes of muscle stiffness include:
Usually, muscle stiffness from sleeping in the wrong position or from pulling a muscle will resolve with home care before you have the chance to see a healthcare provider. But if it’s painful or if it lasts for longer than a few days, you should see a provider.
If your muscle rigidity is new and you don’t know why it’s happening, you should call a provider to make an appointment for an evaluation.
Physical TherapyOften, a physical therapist can diagnose and manage muscle spasms. If you have had this problem before, and you have already seen a physical therapist for it, you could consider returning to your physical therapist for treatment.
Physical Therapy
Often, a physical therapist can diagnose and manage muscle spasms. If you have had this problem before, and you have already seen a physical therapist for it, you could consider returning to your physical therapist for treatment.
Diagnosis of muscle rigidity typically relies on medical history, physical examination, and sometimes diagnostic tests.
Your healthcare provider will ask you how long your muscles have felt stiff, how it feels, if you experience any pain or discomfort, how often the sensation occurs, and whether you have any other symptoms.
Along with a comprehensive physical examination, you will have aneurological examination. Your provider will check your muscle strength, tone, and reflexes.Additionally, they will observe whether you have any tremors or involuntary movements, and they will observe your walking, coordination, and balance.
Sometimes diagnostic tests are part of this evaluation, depending on the likely cause.
Some tests you might have include:
Muscle rigidity is managed with exercise, physical therapy, medication, and treatment of the underlying condition.
The treatment usually is determined based on the symptoms and the cause.
Treatments can include:
Home care can be beneficial when used in conjunction with medical therapy for almost all types of muscle rigidity.Some types of muscle rigidity can improve with home care alone—even without any medical treatment.
Home care for muscle rigidity includes:
It’s important to acknowledge that some of these tips contradict each other—for example, resting and exercise. You should seek advice from a healthcare provider, who can direct you regarding which home strategies are most likely to be helpful, depending on your specific type of muscle rigidity and what has caused it.
Summary
However, several medical conditions can cause muscle stiffness and rigidity, and these can be diagnosed with a physical examination. Treatment can usually relieve the symptoms. Less often, severe muscle rigidity could indicate a serious and dangerous medical condition. Rarely, muscle rigidity requires surgical treatment.
If you’re experiencing muscle tightness, stiffness, or spasms, talk to your healthcare provider to learn whether you need to rest, exercise, use a heating pad, or need a more serious treatment.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Opara M, Kozinc Ž.Which muscles exhibit increased stiffness in people with chronic neck pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis.Front Sports Act Living.2023;5:1172514. doi:10.3389/fspor.2023.1172514Franki I, Bar-On L, Molenaers G, et al.Tone reduction and physical therapy: strengthening partners in treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(2):89-104. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3400987Rafsanjani Deh Qazi H, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Rahmani N.Sonoelastography and lumbopelvic muscle stiffness in patients with low back pain: a systematic review:Galen Med J. 2023;12:e2465. doi:10.31661/gmj.v12i.2465Lin BC, Johal J, Sivakumar K, Romano AE, Yacoub HA.Stiff-person syndrome: an atypical presentation and a review of the literature.Hosp Pract(1995). 2021;49(5):384-390. doi:10.1080/21548331.2021.1961456Ferreira RM, Silva R, Vigário P, Martins PN, Casanova F, Fernandes RJ, Sampaio AR.The effects of massage guns on performance and recovery: a systematic review.J Funct Morphol Kinesiol.2023;8(3):138. doi:10.3390/jfmk8030138Asci F, Falletti M, Zampogna A, Patera M, Hallett M, Rothwell J, Suppa A.Rigidity in Parkinson’s disease: evidence from biomechanical and neurophysiological measures.Brain. 2023;146(9):3705-3718. doi:10.1093/brain/awad114McMulkin ML, MacWilliams BA, Nelson EA, et al.The long-term effects of aggressive spasticity reducing treatment, including selective dorsal rhizotomy, on joint kinematic outcomes of persons with cerebral palsy.Gait Posture.2023;105:139-148. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.07.348National Organization for Rare Disorders.Stiff person syndrome.Nakamura S, Kimoto M, Okada K, Kawanobe U, Sakamoto H.Impact of lower muscle stiffness on ankle dorsiflexion restriction in children with cerebral palsy evaluated using ultrasound elastography.Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2023;109:106092. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106092Marsden J, Stevenson V, Jarrett L.Treatment of spasticity.Handb Clin Neurol.2023;196:497-521. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-98817-9.00010-7
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Opara M, Kozinc Ž.Which muscles exhibit increased stiffness in people with chronic neck pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis.Front Sports Act Living.2023;5:1172514. doi:10.3389/fspor.2023.1172514Franki I, Bar-On L, Molenaers G, et al.Tone reduction and physical therapy: strengthening partners in treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(2):89-104. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3400987Rafsanjani Deh Qazi H, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Rahmani N.Sonoelastography and lumbopelvic muscle stiffness in patients with low back pain: a systematic review:Galen Med J. 2023;12:e2465. doi:10.31661/gmj.v12i.2465Lin BC, Johal J, Sivakumar K, Romano AE, Yacoub HA.Stiff-person syndrome: an atypical presentation and a review of the literature.Hosp Pract(1995). 2021;49(5):384-390. doi:10.1080/21548331.2021.1961456Ferreira RM, Silva R, Vigário P, Martins PN, Casanova F, Fernandes RJ, Sampaio AR.The effects of massage guns on performance and recovery: a systematic review.J Funct Morphol Kinesiol.2023;8(3):138. doi:10.3390/jfmk8030138Asci F, Falletti M, Zampogna A, Patera M, Hallett M, Rothwell J, Suppa A.Rigidity in Parkinson’s disease: evidence from biomechanical and neurophysiological measures.Brain. 2023;146(9):3705-3718. doi:10.1093/brain/awad114McMulkin ML, MacWilliams BA, Nelson EA, et al.The long-term effects of aggressive spasticity reducing treatment, including selective dorsal rhizotomy, on joint kinematic outcomes of persons with cerebral palsy.Gait Posture.2023;105:139-148. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.07.348National Organization for Rare Disorders.Stiff person syndrome.Nakamura S, Kimoto M, Okada K, Kawanobe U, Sakamoto H.Impact of lower muscle stiffness on ankle dorsiflexion restriction in children with cerebral palsy evaluated using ultrasound elastography.Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2023;109:106092. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106092Marsden J, Stevenson V, Jarrett L.Treatment of spasticity.Handb Clin Neurol.2023;196:497-521. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-98817-9.00010-7
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Opara M, Kozinc Ž.Which muscles exhibit increased stiffness in people with chronic neck pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis.Front Sports Act Living.2023;5:1172514. doi:10.3389/fspor.2023.1172514Franki I, Bar-On L, Molenaers G, et al.Tone reduction and physical therapy: strengthening partners in treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(2):89-104. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3400987Rafsanjani Deh Qazi H, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Rahmani N.Sonoelastography and lumbopelvic muscle stiffness in patients with low back pain: a systematic review:Galen Med J. 2023;12:e2465. doi:10.31661/gmj.v12i.2465Lin BC, Johal J, Sivakumar K, Romano AE, Yacoub HA.Stiff-person syndrome: an atypical presentation and a review of the literature.Hosp Pract(1995). 2021;49(5):384-390. doi:10.1080/21548331.2021.1961456Ferreira RM, Silva R, Vigário P, Martins PN, Casanova F, Fernandes RJ, Sampaio AR.The effects of massage guns on performance and recovery: a systematic review.J Funct Morphol Kinesiol.2023;8(3):138. doi:10.3390/jfmk8030138Asci F, Falletti M, Zampogna A, Patera M, Hallett M, Rothwell J, Suppa A.Rigidity in Parkinson’s disease: evidence from biomechanical and neurophysiological measures.Brain. 2023;146(9):3705-3718. doi:10.1093/brain/awad114McMulkin ML, MacWilliams BA, Nelson EA, et al.The long-term effects of aggressive spasticity reducing treatment, including selective dorsal rhizotomy, on joint kinematic outcomes of persons with cerebral palsy.Gait Posture.2023;105:139-148. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.07.348National Organization for Rare Disorders.Stiff person syndrome.Nakamura S, Kimoto M, Okada K, Kawanobe U, Sakamoto H.Impact of lower muscle stiffness on ankle dorsiflexion restriction in children with cerebral palsy evaluated using ultrasound elastography.Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2023;109:106092. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106092Marsden J, Stevenson V, Jarrett L.Treatment of spasticity.Handb Clin Neurol.2023;196:497-521. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-98817-9.00010-7
Opara M, Kozinc Ž.Which muscles exhibit increased stiffness in people with chronic neck pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis.Front Sports Act Living.2023;5:1172514. doi:10.3389/fspor.2023.1172514
Franki I, Bar-On L, Molenaers G, et al.Tone reduction and physical therapy: strengthening partners in treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(2):89-104. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3400987
Rafsanjani Deh Qazi H, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Rahmani N.Sonoelastography and lumbopelvic muscle stiffness in patients with low back pain: a systematic review:Galen Med J. 2023;12:e2465. doi:10.31661/gmj.v12i.2465
Lin BC, Johal J, Sivakumar K, Romano AE, Yacoub HA.Stiff-person syndrome: an atypical presentation and a review of the literature.Hosp Pract(1995). 2021;49(5):384-390. doi:10.1080/21548331.2021.1961456
Ferreira RM, Silva R, Vigário P, Martins PN, Casanova F, Fernandes RJ, Sampaio AR.The effects of massage guns on performance and recovery: a systematic review.J Funct Morphol Kinesiol.2023;8(3):138. doi:10.3390/jfmk8030138
Asci F, Falletti M, Zampogna A, Patera M, Hallett M, Rothwell J, Suppa A.Rigidity in Parkinson’s disease: evidence from biomechanical and neurophysiological measures.Brain. 2023;146(9):3705-3718. doi:10.1093/brain/awad114
McMulkin ML, MacWilliams BA, Nelson EA, et al.The long-term effects of aggressive spasticity reducing treatment, including selective dorsal rhizotomy, on joint kinematic outcomes of persons with cerebral palsy.Gait Posture.2023;105:139-148. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.07.348
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Stiff person syndrome.
Nakamura S, Kimoto M, Okada K, Kawanobe U, Sakamoto H.Impact of lower muscle stiffness on ankle dorsiflexion restriction in children with cerebral palsy evaluated using ultrasound elastography.Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2023;109:106092. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106092
Marsden J, Stevenson V, Jarrett L.Treatment of spasticity.Handb Clin Neurol.2023;196:497-521. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-98817-9.00010-7
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