By Physiotherapist, Vanessa Boon
Why are my muscles always tight? – there are multiple causes:
1. Inactivity
Spending lots of time in certain positions can cause the muscles that hold you there to tighten up. For examples: sitting all day, standing all day, laying on the couch and binge watching your favourite series!
2. Missing minerals
The key players here are magnesium and calcium. Sometimes it could just be your diet causing your muscle tightness. Magnesium helps to relax your muscles while calcium helps to tighten them. If you constantly get muscle spasms there may be an imbalance with these minerals.
3. Repetitive use and stress
Examples of repetitive use would be carrying your bag on the same arm daily, using your mouse, crossing the same leg over the other and little habitual movements like that can tighten your muscles up. In this kind of environment, stress also plays a big role in muscle tightness.
4. Lack of hydration
To function optimally, muscles require water. This is because of electrolytes in water which regulate nerve and muscle function. Without the right amount of electrolytes, our muscles do not work at their best!
5. DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
This is the sore/achy/tight feeling you feel directly to a few days after a gym session. The discomfort/tightness is caused by microscopic tears in the muscles which can take up to 7 days to settle.
How can I fix this?
Get Stronger!
Weak muscles are prone to tightness. Muscles tighten up quicker when they are unable to handle the work they are given. The stronger the muscle, the less likely they are to get tight!
Rule out postural issues or muscle imbalances!
Could it be your posture? Tightness in muscles can also be from particular muscles being overloaded in poor sitting/sleeping positions. A muscle not pulling its weight means the muscle next to it may be required to do the weight of both!
Forced relaxation.
Get a massage! Massages improve blood flow and circulation which is key in muscle recovery. Besides that, increased blood flow also improves sleep quality. Sleep is a major factor in the muscle recovery process.
Get Moving!
We were not made to stay seated or standing all day long. Even if your posture is amazing, staying in one position all day is not good for you. Top tip for preventing muscle tightness: get moving!
Muscles feeling tight? Pop over to BOSIC for a complimentary postural screen, get moving or get a massage and get your muscles feeling right today! Give us a call or hop onto our website to find out more.