Chronic Muscle Tension: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments

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Chronic Muscle Tension: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments

Feeling pain or discomfort around your body? Whether it’s lingering stiffness in your shoulders from long hours seated in the office or tightness in your legs from high-intensity exercise, aches and pains aren’t fun and can be detrimental for not just your physical well-being but also your overall quality of life. In this article, we’ll share more about what causes stiff muscles, the symptoms that accompany the condition, and some chronic muscle tension treatments you can turn to for relief. 

What Causes Chronic Muscle Tension?

Contrary to popular belief, chronic muscle tension, or myofascial tension, can occur in both active individuals and those with more sedentary lifestyles too. Playing sports or participating in physically demanding activities may cause physical trauma or muscle overuse and lead to tightness and stiffness in your body, while staying seated in a specific position or in poor postures for too long can place undue stress on your muscles. Stress and anxiety may also exacerbate your condition as our bodies tend to respond to psychological strain by tightening muscles. 

Learn More: Relieve Frozen Shoulder Pain and Stiffness with Physiotherapy at ProRehab Singapore

Symptoms of Chronic Muscle Tension

A Person Suffering From Chronic Muscle Tension In Their Legs

Not sure if you’re suffering from chronic muscle tension or something that’s more acute and temporary? Take a look at this list of symptoms:


  • Muscle pain ranging from dull aches and sharp twinges
  • Stiffness after waking up or long periods of inactivity
  • Reduced range of motion in affected areas
  • Knots or tender spots within muscles
  • Tension headaches


Checked off one or more items from this list? If your symptoms have persisted for more than three months, then you may have chronic muscle tension. In this case, we recommend visiting a physiotherapist to get your body checked. 

Treatment Options for Chronic Muscle Tension

Feeling pains and aches in your body whenever you move or after periods of sitting or standing isn’t pleasant, and we understand that. Fortunately, you can tap on various chronic muscle tension treatments designed to effectively manage symptoms and restore comfort. 


  • Sports Physiotherapy: Improve flexibility, strength, and posture through a range of targeted exercises, stretches, or manual therapy. Your physiotherapist may also educate you on body mechanics to help you prevent future issues. 
  • Massage Therapy: From deep tissue to Swedish massage, the soft tissues in your body will be manipulated to release tension, improve circulation and promote relaxation.
  • Heat and Cold Therapy: Heat may be used to increase blood flow to your muscles and help them relax, while cold therapy works to reduce inflammation and numb the affected areas. Alternating between both can reduce tension, promote healing, and help to relieve pain. 
  • Stress Management: Stress can worsen tension in the muscles. Hence, stress management techniques, such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, or cognitive-behavioural therapy can help to lower stress levels and promote recovery from tension. 
  • Ergonomic Adjustments: From optimising your workstation setup to maintaining good posture no matter what activity you engage in, minor adjustments to how you stand, sit, or move can protect your muscles from strain. 
  • Biofeedback: An electronic monitoring device will be used to measure muscle tension levels in your body. This data will then be analysed and used to influence relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery, to help you learn how to best control and reduce tension in your body. 
  • Acupuncture: Inserting thin needles into acupressure points in the body to stimulate nerve endings and promote the body’s natural healing response. 


Chronic muscle tension is a common yet often overlooked condition that may significantly affect your daily life. If you’re keen on leading a more comfortable lifestyle free of pain, physiotherapy can be helpful. 

At SG ProRehab, a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore, our team of physiotherapists is committed to providing personalised care and support to help you achieve optimal musculoskeletal health. Take charge of your well-being today by contacting us

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