Why Muscle Stiffness Returns After Massage and How to Prevent It for Good

General Reasons

There are various reasons why muscles stiffen. Common factors include stress, accumulated fatigue, aging, poor posture or habits, and over-exertion. Throughout our daily lives, we use our muscles frequently, and if our posture or habits are poor, this can cause problems with how we use them. Over-exercising can also contribute. One major cause is muscle tension due to stress and fatigue.

Traditional Oriental Medicine Perspective

In Traditional Oriental Medicine, stress impacts our body negatively, primarily affecting the liver by causing heat to build up in the organ. The liver is responsible for storing blood and is connected to the five senses, particularly the eyes, and to the muscles, which are part of the body's structural tissues. When stressed, the liver heats up, diminishing its stored blood. This leads to dry eyes, blurry vision, and sometimes pain due to insufficient nourishment. The muscles also become tense and more prone to stiffness due to the lack of proper blood circulation. Continuous screen use and sitting in a slouched position contribute to this, particularly stiffening the neck and shoulder muscles.

Conventional Treatments Provide Temporary Relief

When muscles stiffen, many people resort to stretching or getting massages. However, even after these treatments, muscles tend to tighten again, especially when returning to work or daily activities. Chiropractic adjustments might provide temporary relief, but if the underlying cause isn’t addressed, the stiffness returns. This happens because the muscle tension didn’t develop overnight; it results from years of poor posture and stress.

Oriental Medicine Solutions

Acupuncture to Enhance Liver Function and Herbal Supplements to Nourish Blood

To address this issue fundamentally, long-term stress and fatigue on the liver must be relieved. Acupuncture can restore the liver's ability to store blood and reduce the heat caused by stress. If stress has severely dried out the liver’s blood, herbal remedies can replenish it. Once the liver has sufficient blood again, it nourishes the eyes and muscles, making them more supple and reducing stiffness.

Gua Sha to Remove Stagnant Blood

When liver issues persist for a long time without treatment, blood stasis, or "stagnant blood," occurs. In Traditional Oriental Medicine, the term "blood stasis" can be understood as clotted or "dirty" blood, much like a bruise from a bump or fall. This stagnant blood acts like a toxin within the body, and it cannot be removed through massage or other conventional means. One of the methods used in Oriental Medicine to remove this stagnant blood is Gua Sha (scraping therapy). Cupping is another common technique to eliminate stagnant blood. Gua Sha helps break up the blood stasis, particularly in areas where muscles are tense, providing relief and preventing the muscles from stiffening again.

Patient Case

One patient who received acupuncture and Gua Sha treatment had muscle knots in the neck, shoulders, and back, along with symptoms of nerve pain, headaches, dizziness, and numbness. After just two sessions, the patient reported that the pain and stiffness in their muscles were gone, describing their muscles as feeling like "Jello." For larger treatment areas, more sessions may be required, but for smaller areas, even one session can completely eliminate pain caused by stagnant blood.

The Importance of Resolving Muscle Stiffness

In Oriental Medicine, the progression of disease follows a pattern: it starts with the muscles, then affects the joints, and eventually, the bones. Treating muscle-related issues early is much easier and faster. However, if the condition is left untreated and progresses to the joints or bones, the treatment takes longer and becomes more complicated, often requiring herbal medications.

Final Recommendation

We often disregard muscle stiffness, but it is a signal from the body asking for rest. However, we tend to continue working and accumulating stress. In such cases, it is essential to seek treatment from a practitioner who can identify the root cause of the stiffness and provide complete resolution. This is the best way to prevent further progression of the condition and avoid additional health problems.