Muscle contracture - What to do?

Most people spend about 8 hours a day in the same position, whether sitting at a computer or driving, or standing in a static position. This causes muscles to become shorter and more susceptible to injury. Without treatment, contractures will worsen over time and can even cause irreparable damage to muscle fibers.

What should we do in light of this?

A muscle contracture is a permanent involuntary contraction of some muscle fibers that leads to the formation of a nodule that is sensitive to palpation and, consequently, muscle stiffness.

Any muscle can develop a contracture, however, the most affected areas are usually the base of the neck, between the shoulder blades, the lower back and the buttocks region.

Prevention is always best. If you work at a desk all day, you should get up every hour for 15 minutes. Outside of work hours, you should do exercises that strengthen the stability muscles responsible for maintaining posture, such as Pilates or Yoga.

If you have contractures, you should try relaxation techniques such as heat, massage and stretching. Once the condition has been resolved, it is essential to adopt a more active lifestyle and exercise regularly to keep your muscles healthy. Without this last step, the contractures will return and, as a rule, they will be worse than before.