Muscle pain or aches are medically called myalgia. What we experience as muscle aches can be either from one or a group or muscles; Or else it can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia too.

Common causes of Muscle Pain:

• Injuries by impact, sprain and strain.
• Overuse of muscles.
• Infections like flu.
• Inflammatory conditions like arthritis, autoimmune diseases etc.
•  Some medicines like those used for cholesterol, statins etc can cause muscle ache.
• Deficiency of vitamins like vitamin D and minerals like calcium and magnesium can also cause muscle pain.
• Electrolyte imbalance as in too little potassium or calcium in blood may also cause muscle cramps and pain.

Treatment for Muscle Pain:

• Identifying the cause is important in treating muscle pain.
• Generalised muscle pain often requires medications to address the specific disease, inflammation or infection.
• Severe injuries including tendons, ligaments and large tear of muscles may require conservative management, medications and sometimes surgical intervention.

First aid for Muscle Strain & Sprain:

A strain is an injury caused by excessive pulling or tear to muscles and tendons. A sprain is an injury involving muscle and tendons.

• The protocol for muscle injury first aid is called PRICE, short for Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress and elevate.
  • Protect is preventing further injury. It usually involves immobilisation, removing any load  the muscle by lying down etc.
  • Rest: Stop all activities involving the muscle to prevent excess inflammation and micro bleedings.
  • Ice: Apply cold compress. Its better not to apply ice directly to bare skin. Use a pack, towel or plastic to cover the ice. Ice can be applied for about 20 minutes every hour till the pain and acute inflammation reduces.
  • Compress: Light compression bandage will reduce excess inflammation and oedema from setting in.
  • Elevation: Of the injured part will reduce swelling and ensure venous return.
• Heat shall be applied only after acute inflammation and swelling subsides, usually after 48 – 72 hours.
•  Massage also should be avoided till the acute inflammation subsides, usually for 72 hours.
• Oils like murivenna can be applied along with ice pack as antiinflammatory.
• Liniments like Saplint can be applied after acute inflammation and redness subsides.

Saplint Plus:

• Saplint plus liniment helps to reduce pain, oedema and muscle spasm.
• It is very effective in muscle cramps, sprains, strains and pain due to arthritis.
• Sapling is also effective in low back ache, neck and back pain etc.
• It contains the ingredients of two traditional ayurvedic oils called murivenna and karpooradi oil, which are very effective anti-inflammatory, analgesic and protective oils.
• It also has menthol and camphor which gives a cooling effect and improves circulation to the area. This helps in tissue repair and reduces inflammation.
• The camphor and menthol also provide a counter irritant effect to reduce the pain.

Tips to prevent Muscle Pain & Injuries:

• Do mild exercise regularly which works all your muscles.
• Choose exercises according to your health, needs and target specific muscles if necessary.
• Proper warm up and cool down is very important before and after doing exercise.
• Stretching should be done as a daily routine. Do stretching also only after proper warm up.
• Massage yourself with oils like dhanwantaram tailam once in a week.
• Get a warm shower or steam bath after oil application once a week.