Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsPhysical ActivityInjuryMusculoskeletal ConditionsAutoimmune ConditionsVitamin DeficiencyInsect Bites or StingsMedicationsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Physical Activity
Injury
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Autoimmune Conditions
Vitamin Deficiency
Insect Bites or Stings
Medications
Treatment
However, sometimes, muscle stiffness is a sign of an underlying health condition or a side effect of medication. You may need to see a healthcare provider in these instances.
Symptoms of Muscle Stiffness
The most apparent symptoms of muscle stiffness are tightness and difficulty moving. It may occur when you move out of a position you’ve been holding for a long time (like after sleeping) in which case it may last for up to 30 minutes and eventually fade. You may also feel stiff after exercising, and that sensation could last a few days.
Symptoms that may appear with stiffness include pain walking and muscle spasms. Other symptoms may occur if your stiffness is related to an underlying health condition.
A response calleddelayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)is associated with muscle stiffness after strenuous physical activity. Symptoms often begin 12 to 24 hours after exercise and peak around 24 to 72 hours.
In addition to muscle stiffness, DOMS can cause:
DOMS can occur with any exercise but is most common with jogging or running, walking downhill, jumping, step aerobics, and strength training.It typically resolves on its own, butice packsandnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), can help decrease symptoms.
Rhabdomyolysis
Muscle stiffness can occur with injuries likemuscle strains or ligament sprains. Minor injuries often resolve within a few days. However, if your symptoms persist, see a healthcare provider. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following:
These symptoms could indicate a more severe injury, such as a muscle or ligament tear or a broken bone. Severe injuries are diagnosed with imaging such asX-raysandmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Your provider may recommendphysical therapy, or in more severe cases, you may need surgery.
Health conditions that affect themusculoskeletal systemcan cause stiffness, sometimes in specific areas of the body. Examples include:
These conditions are diagnosed with a physical exam and imaging, such as X-rays and an MRI. Treatment could include physical therapy, NSAIDs, orcortisone injectionsto decrease inflammation.
Polymyalgia rheumaticais a disease that occurs when the body attacks its healthy tissues. This condition causes inflammation and muscle stiffness throughout the body. Other symptoms include:
Polymyalgiarheumaticais diagnosed through a physical exam and blood tests. It is treated with medication to decrease inflammation and exercise to decrease stiffness.
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack the lining around joints, called thesynovium.
RA symptoms usually include:
Lupusis an autoimmune disease that causes muscle pain and stiffness for most people with the condition. Other symptoms can include:
Lupus is diagnosed with blood and urine tests and a biopsy of affected tissues and is treated with medications.
Nutritional balance plays an important role in strength and muscle performance.
A lack ofvitamin Dhas been linked to an increased risk of muscle stiffness along with a loss of muscle strength, tone, and elasticity.
Vitamin Bdeficiency andiron deficiency anemiacan both also cause muscle weakness and stiffness.
Muscle stiffness can occur with insect bites or stings and is more likely to happen if the area becomes infected. Insects can also carry diseases that cause muscle stiffness. For example, tick bites can lead toLyme disease.
Other symptoms of this condition include:
Lyme disease symptoms can take up to one month after a tick bite to develop and are treated with antibiotics.
What Medication Can Cause Stiff Muscles?
Muscle stiffness can be a side effect of certain medications, such as:
If you have muscle stiffness, let your healthcare provider know about any medications you are taking.
How to Treat Muscle Stiffness
To address muscle stiffness, you need to treat the underlying cause.
For DOMS and minor muscle strains,ice packsandnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), can help decrease symptoms such as pain and swelling.
Active recovery is also recommended for DOMS. This involves engaging in less-intense physical activity, such as walking, swimming, or gentle stretching.
For arthritis, heat or cold treatments may help with stiffness around the joints.Low-impact exercises, range of motion exercises, and stretching may also help.
In cases of vitamin or mineral deficiencies, your healthcare provider may recommend supplements or dietary changes.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderSee your healthcare provider if your muscle stiffness doesn’t resolve within a few days. Seek medical attention sooner if your symptoms don’t have an apparent cause (such as exercise or injury), if your symptoms keep you from doing everyday tasks, or if you have additional symptoms such as a fever or rash.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See your healthcare provider if your muscle stiffness doesn’t resolve within a few days. Seek medical attention sooner if your symptoms don’t have an apparent cause (such as exercise or injury), if your symptoms keep you from doing everyday tasks, or if you have additional symptoms such as a fever or rash.
Summary
Muscle stiffness is common, particularly after strenuous activity. This symptom can also occur with injuries, musculoskeletal conditions, or autoimmune diseases. Muscle stiffness can develop from insect bites or stings or be a side effect of certain medications. Diagnosis and treatment are specific to the underlying cause.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have muscle stiffness that persists for more than a few days. Stiffness can affect your movement, eventually leading to problems in other parts of your body. If your muscle stiffness is related to an injury or poor posture, consult a physical therapist for an individualized exercise program.
17 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.Elsevier.Muscle Stiffness What Is It, Causes, Treatment, and More.American College of Sports Medicine.Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolsis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports injuries.MedStart Health.Arthritis, bursitis, or tendonitis: what is causing my pain?Arthritis Foundation.Polymyalgia rheumatica.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: causes symptoms, treatments and more.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of lupus.Lupus Research Alliance.How is Lupus Diagnosed?Kocaer A, Sarpel T, Gökçen N, Başaran S, Coşkun Benlidayı İ.Proximal muscle strength as a predictor of vitamin D insufficiency in elderly.Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021;67(1):84-90. Published 2021 Mar 4. doi:10.5606/tftrd.2021.5323Yale Ledger.Reasons You Might Have Stiff Muscles and What You Can Do.Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center.Lyme disease signs & symptoms.Harvard Health Publishing.Managing statin muscle pain.Kon JJ, Kon AA.Severe muscle pain and stiffness due to dexmethylphenidate.Clin Case Rep. 2020;8(3):420-422. doi:10.1002/ccr3.2628Mental Health America.What are the side-effects of antipsychotic meds?Dupuy O, Douzi W, Theurot D, Bosquet L, Dugué B.An evidence-based approach for choosing post-exercise recovery techniques to reduce markers of muscle damage, soreness, fatigue, and inflammation: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Front Physiol. 2018;9:403. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00403Johns Hopkins Medicine.Arthritis.
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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.
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MedStart Health.Arthritis, bursitis, or tendonitis: what is causing my pain?
Arthritis Foundation.Polymyalgia rheumatica.
Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: causes symptoms, treatments and more.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of lupus.
Lupus Research Alliance.How is Lupus Diagnosed?
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Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center.Lyme disease signs & symptoms.
Harvard Health Publishing.Managing statin muscle pain.
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Mental Health America.What are the side-effects of antipsychotic meds?
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