Natural Alternatives To Relieving Muscle Tension

A fit body does not necessarily have to be defined by hard muscles or having muscles. However, working the muscles is an essential part of getting and staying fit. The process of working the muscles will see these tissues contract and release. But at times, the muscles may contract and fail to lease, and this leads to what’s called muscle tension.

Muscle tension is often a sign of fatigues muscles that are most likely not in a healthy condition. However, it can also be a product of stress (overuse) of the tissues. Health experts have discovered that the muscle tension attributed by stress, if not treated, can result in tension aches. Achy and stiff muscles characterize such a state of the muscles. 

It can occur in the upper half of the body in places such as the jaw and neck. It is highly recommendable to consult a doctor when the muscle tension is debilitation. Treatment of the tense muscles and be via different approaches with alternatives that include:

Massage Therapy

Message therapy is one of the most effective alternative remedies for body pains and aches relief. It will help tense muscles to relax. It is a technique believed to date back more than 4,000 years.

Hippocrates wrote in the 4th Century B.C. of how patients could get treated from aches and pains via the rubbing of the body. Massaging focuses directly on the muscle tissue to ease it when it contracted and unable to release. The AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) states that massage therapy can relax and lengthen tense and tight muscles and offers relief for sore, stiff ones.

Patients can choose from an array of massages that can range from the lighter forms that entail gentle touches to the deep-tissue massage. In most cases, the massage therapists will ask a few questions to find out where your pains and aches are located and then work on the body to find other unknown spots while trying to relieve the muscle tension and cause them to relax. 

The impact of the massage can also help get rid of tension headaches as well as tissue stiffness. You can find an experienced therapist if you do a localized online search or a recommendation from your physical therapist or doctor.

Practice Yoga

Aside from massage therapy, yoga is the other alternative treatment for muscle tension that dates back over 5,000 years. Yoga is a technique that focuses on stretching, lengthen, and relax muscle tissue.  It works in conjunction with controlled breathing. It is a method that focuses on the physical aspects of muscle tension as well as the stressing side of things.

Yoga can be used to treat headaches. For instance, the late Tomas Brofeldt, M.D., discovered that it helps to improve body posture, and this plays an essential role in relieving tension in muscles.

The doctor who was associated with the Davis Medical Center also stated that yoga was an effective stress reliever, a fact supported by Mayo Clinic. Experts suggest that routine yoga practice and help a person have a positive outlook on stressors.

Like with massage therapy, yoga is available in many forms or styles that include Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Bikram, among others. You may find that one or two styles are what works best for you. Overall, you should consider taking beginner’s lessons if you are new to yoga as you also discover how it can help relieve your muscle tension. You register for classes or buy a beginner’s yoga DVD to get started. Remember to take things slow. Check online for local listed yoga classes or visit the fitness center in your area for recommendations.

Take A Hot Bath Or Try Out A Whirlpool Tub

Hot baths are not a new thing; people have known and used them for treating body aches and pain as well as therapeutic purposes for more than 4000 years. Different cultures have created unique healing environments in areas where they have natural hot springs. Wild animals also enjoy the benefits of such hot water bodies. Research shows hot baths can ease muscle tension.

The hot water will work on the contracted muscle fibers easing them to relax, thus relieving the tension and pain. The hot baths can also have a similar effect on the nerves. Some alternative health practitioners will include different soothing and healing substances, such as Epsom salt, herbs, and essential oils in the hot baths.

Epsom salt is a mineral magnesium sulfate that works as a sedative for the nerves. The Epsom Salt Industry Council, says that the mineral also can help lower the build-up of lactic acid in the muscle tissue. But it is wise not to enjoy a hot bath for too long. You should be aware of any dizziness and consult your doctor before using any healing additives in the bath.