6 physical therapy treatments for muscle tension: Plus, common causes

Muscle tension is a common issue that comes and goes. You might feel especially tense when you’re stressed or after a long day at work. Tension that doesn’t go away may be a sign that something needs to change. Maybe you need to make some adjustments to your work environment, or maybe you could benefit from some new stress management techniques. It’s not something you should ignore. Over time, muscle tension can lead to stiffness, poor posture, chronic pain and other types of dysfunction. 

A physical therapist can help you determine where your muscle tension is coming from and provide some treatments to release your tension in as little as one appointment. They can also teach you some techniques to manage your tension at home. 

In this blog post, we’ll talk about common causes of muscle tension and six physical therapy treatments that can help.

Common causes of muscle tension

Most people don’t realize how much tension they’re carrying in their muscles. Stress, anxiety and poor posture are some of the most common culprits. You might feel these types of tension in your neck, shoulders and lower back. People sometimes carry tension from stress in their hips as well, though it usually isn’t as noticeable. Your daily activities at work and in your free time may cause tension if your environment or your equipment isn’t a good fit for your body. A lack of conditioning, rest and recovery time can also contribute to tension. Finally, past injuries and surgeries can be sources of tension for some people.

6 effective physical therapy treatments for muscle tension

Your personalized physical therapy treatment plan will help you release muscle tension and help keep it from coming back. Your PT may also show you some ways to relieve tension on your own. You can use massage and relaxation techniques like deep breathing to help manage tension. Heat and cold therapies can be helpful, too. Try applying a heating pad for 20 minutes and alternating it with a cold compress for another 20 minutes.

The following are six treatments your physical therapist may use to help relieve muscle tension:

1. Manual therapy techniques — Manual therapy techniques are helpful for knots of tension in muscles and soft tissue called trigger points as well as stiffness and tension in the joints. Your PT will use their hands to apply pressure in massage-like movements that release tension and mobilize stiff tissue. Some common approaches include myofascial release and joint mobilization.

2. Targeted stretching programs — Stretching is one of the first things we do when we feel tense. Targeted stretching can help relieve built-up tension and keep it from coming back. Your PT will show you specific stretches to help manage your tension during and between sessions.

3. Therapeutic exercise — Therapeutic exercise can help increase your range of motion and restore healthy movement in places where you’re stiff and tense. Your PT may guide you through some exercises that target tense muscles and joints. 

4. Postural training — People often don’t realize they have poor posture until someone else points it out or it starts causing them pain. Using a phone and working at a computer all day can both be bad for your posture. Your PT can help you become more aware of your posture and teach you exercises that help keep your back straight and supported throughout the day. 

5. The Mulligan technique — If your muscle tension causes pain or restricts certain movements, the Mulligan technique may help. In this treatment, your PT will apply pressure to the joint while moving it. The goal is to achieve pain-free, instant and long-lasting results.

6. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) — This treatment uses gentle electrical stimulation to relax nerves and muscles. Your PT will apply electrodes to your skin and slowly increase the pulses of electrical current. TENS isn’t painful, but you may feel tingling, buzzing or tapping sensations.

Get personalized treatment for your muscle tension at KC Rehab

Muscle tension is a normal part of life. However, when left untreated, it can have a negative impact on your overall health. A physical therapist can help you understand your muscle tension and learn ways to manage it at home. They can also provide treatments that work fast and provide lasting relief.

At KC Rehab, we get to know our patients on a personal level. We care about helping people take an active role in caring for their own health, which begins with education and clear communication. We want our treatments to support your overall well-being and help you live your best life.

Are you ready to try a new approach to managing your muscle tension? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.