Tension headaches, also known as musculoskeletal headaches for the accompanying muscle aches and pains, are the most common type of headache, affecting most of us at some point in our lives. A tension headache causes mild to moderate head pain that may spread throughout your neck and shoulders.
Musculoskeletal pain refers to pain in the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. You can feel this pain in just one area of the body, such as your back. You can also have it throughout your body if you have a widespread condition like fibromyalgia.
The most prevalent forms of musculoskeletal pain are chronic low back pain, neck pain, and the pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but musculoskeletal pain also includes sprained muscles, pain associated with fracture, shoulder pain, and others.
People tend to explain it as their entire body aching or that their muscles feel as though they have been pulled or overworked with the most common symptoms being pain, fatigue or a disruption in normal sleep patterns. Musculoskeletal pain can affect anyone and impact all major areas of the body, including the: Neck.
How can musculoskeletal structures be the cause of headaches? It's well known that teeth-grinding and jaw clenching are common headache triggers, but a large number of headaches are also caused by referred pain from musculoskeletal structures in the neck and upper back.
Low back pain is the main contributor to the overall burden of musculoskeletal conditions (570 million prevalent cases worldwide, responsible for 7.4% of global YLDs).
Orthopedic surgeon
Orthopedists specialize in the musculoskeletal system. This includes identifying and treating an injury, providing rehabilitation to an affected area or function, and advising on how to reduce more damage.
Somatic pain and visceral pain come from different areas of the body. Somatic pain is in the muscles, bones, or soft tissues. Visceral pain comes from your internal organs and blood vessels. Somatic pain is intense and may be easier to pinpoint than visceral pain.
Injuries to the Musculoskeletal System Heal Slower
Under normal circumstances, it's all healed up within a week or two.
“Thus there is an international near-consensus that musculoskeletal disorders are causally related to occupational ergonomic stressors, such as repetitive and stereotyped motions, forceful exertions, non-neutral postures, vibration, and combinations of these exposures.”
Persistent pain affects the muscles, joints and bones and has lasted for more than 3 months. It is a common problem effecting as many as 3 out of 10 adults in the UK. Persistent pain can affect any part of the body and can be felt in one or more body areas at the same time.
A sign can include: swelling, redness or difficulty moving a particular body part. A symptom can be: numbness, tingling and pain. Signs and symptoms can appear suddenly (i.e. from a single incident that causes an injury) or can appear gradually over time.
Sleep tips for musculoskeletal pain:
Follow basic sleep hygiene techniques, including going to bed and waking up at the same time, even on the weekends. Practice mindfulness. Becoming more mindful will help you relax and manage your pain better. Try to be as active as possible throughout the day.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect many people and can affect your joints, bones and muscles and sometimes associated tissues such as your nerves. They can range from minor injuries to long-term conditions.
Musculoskeletal pain in the low back and upper extremities has also been linked to stress, especially job stress. Millions of individuals suffer from chronic painful conditions secondary to musculoskeletal disorders.
Musculoskeletal pain (MP) is common in the general population and has been associated with anxiety in several ways: (a) muscle tension is included as a part of the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, (b) pain can be a common symptom and a good indicator of an anxiety disorder, (c) anxiety is an ...
Your musculoskeletal system includes bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues. They work together to support your body's weight and help you move.
Pain is an important determinant of magnitude of disability associated with musculoskeletal conditions [38]. Emerging research suggests that fatigue is a symptom that frequently co-occurs with musculoskeletal pain, and further adds to the burden of disability [39, 40].
Tension headaches last at least 30 minutes but they can last much longer, sometimes for several days.
Musculoskeletal disorders comprise diverse conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissues. These disorders may result in pain and loss of function and are among the most disabling and costly conditions in the United States (USBJI, 2014a).
Conclusions A standardised set of six physical examination tests showed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal dysfunctions in migraine patients. These dysfunctions support a reciprocal interaction between the trigeminal and the cervical systems as a trait symptom in migraine.
Musculoskeletal conditions can cause pain, stiffness and often inflammation in one or more joints or muscles. Regular exercise can reduce some of these symptoms, and improve your joint mobility and strength.