Muscle hardening is the increase of tension. What many people don't know is that it's not just the legendary "Blackroll" & Co. that promises relief. There are completely other possibilities.
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Anyone who regularly suffers from tension knows how painful it can be. But there is an increase: muscle hardening. While normal tension can also be released by oneself, hardening is usually a case for a physiotherapist who releases the frozen muscle with targeted treatment methods.
But you can also provide first aid at home. There are some helpers from the rehabilitation and physiotherapy sector that can easily be used by yourself. But beware: A hardened muscle initially reacts extremely painfully in the acute stage!
The good news is that if you approach and bite slowly, you usually get quick relief.
We'll tell you how to do it and what you need to know.
These alternatives to the fascia roller are used by insiders and physiotherapists
Muscle hardening or tension?
To put it simply, muscle hardening is advanced muscle tension. This so-called myogelosis, or myalgia, occurs when muscle tension persists over a long period of time. The continuously tense muscle fibers compress the blood capillaries within the muscles, which restricts blood circulation and prevents the removal of metabolic products. The result can lead to a painful hardening of the muscles and, in the worst case, to persistent inflammation.
Typical symptoms of hardening: They can often be felt as pressure-sensitive "lumps" or bulging-shaped muscle thickening.
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Muscle hardening: possible causes
Muscle hardening always occurs when tension is not released or cured. As with tension, the most common cause of muscle hardening is persistent poor posture or incorrect loading. But unfamiliar movements or overload, for example during sports, are also among the classic triggers of muscle hardening. Not to be neglected, however, is stress as a cause. If you are constantly under tension emotionally, you also subconsciously tense your muscles. In the long run, this non-stop muscle tone leads to classic back tension and, over longer periods of time, this results in highly painful hardening.
Tip: Check your pillow
If you repeatedly suffer from tension in the neck area, it is worth taking a look at the pillow. Special ergonomic cushions can bring significant improvements here. Just give it a try, it's definitely worth it! For example, the HADAR neck support pillow from Third of Life with a special shoulder arch for side and back sleepers.
Neck support pillow for side sleepers
Loosen muscle hardening
The most common measure to get to grips with muscle hardening is applications by a physiotherapist. With so-called "manual therapy", which is often mistakenly referred to as "massage", the professionals mobilize the hardened tissue. The fasciae play a very important role here, as they run through the body like a fine net and also freeze when muscles harden.
The use of heat or acupressure or trigger point therapy is also helpful, although the latter method can be quite painful at first. For this purpose, two resourceful physiotherapists invented TRIGGid, which was presented in "Die Höhle der Löwen". But all of them provide relief with regular use. Locally exerted pressure on the hardened tissue increases blood circulation and subsequently reduces hardening.
Loosen muscle hardening with trigger point pusher
Trigger points are points in the center of hardening. If these are pressed selectively, it is initially extremely painful. But if you grit your teeth, you will quickly feel the pain subside! This is due to the fact that the hardened tissue slowly yields to the pressure, the blood circulation is increased and the muscles can gradually relax.
TMX® Original Plus trigger point pusher for narrow muscle groups. © TMX®
Order TMX® Trigger
This trigger replaces the thumb of a physiotherapist, so to speak. Through selective, long-lasting and deep acupressure, it helps to treat muscle hardening in the neck, shoulders, back, arms and legs at any time.
✅ Includes 30-day pain-free programs and acute pain-free exercises.
✅ Can be attached to any wall – removable and reusable
DONGSHEN Trigger Point Pusher Set © Amazon
Order DONGSHEN Trigger
Three different trigger pushers for small and larger hardenings made of environmentally friendly, comfortable silicone material. All of them can be attached to all smooth surfaces with a suction cup: ideal for triggering in hard-to-reach places without outside help.
✅ Soft cover, hard core for more comfortable treatment
✅ Extra small hand and forearm trigger ideal for "mouse arm" after a long period of writing
Loosen muscle hardening via the fascia
If the muscles harden, the surrounding tissue also hardens. These include, above all, the fascia, which cover our entire body like a supporting net. The harder the muscle, the harder the facies – a vicious circle that can be avoided by specifically loosening the fascia. Fascia rollers are particularly popular, but by no means the only loosening agent.
Theragun is in charge, also with physiotherapists. © Theragun
Order Theragun
Physiotherapists swear by the original Theragun. Although there are more cost-effective massage gun variants, the scientifically proven combination of power, depth and speed in movement is the market leader. Here, the vibration of the head is transmitted to the tissues at high speed and amplitude.
✅ Medical product with application in physiotherapy and rehabilitation
✅ Particularly quiet with maximum impact With
✅ 4 different attachments
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BellaBambi® Cupping Cupping Set © BellaBambi®
Order a cupping set
With the small suction cups from the German manufacturer BellaBambi®, even laymen can create a soothing fascia massage with a little practice. Due to negative pressure, the small suction cups adhere to the skin, if they are moved back and forth, they massage the fasciae under the skin.
✅ Fascia cup, fascia roller and trigger pointer at the same time
✅ child's play and gentle on the hands for daily use
Loosen muscle hardening with electricity and acupressure
With this type of treatment, you can literally sit back and relax. Because neither you nor any other person have to take active action here. The stimuli that lead to the relaxation of the muscles and tissues are set without their active intervention.
Beurer's TENS relieves pain by means of electrical nerve stimulation. © Beurer
Order TENS device
For more than 35 years, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) stimulation current therapy has been used by doctors, physiotherapists or even patients themselves. Trigger points are stimulated with stimulation current via electrode pads that are glued to the skin. The impulses prevent the transmission of pain signals to the brain, thus loosening muscles and promoting blood circulation.
✅ With 64 pre-programmed applications in the areas of EMS/TENS/Massage
✅ "Doctor's Function" with customizable programs to match your personal therapy program
Acupressure mat with cushion filled with 100% coconut fiber © Amazon
Free delivery on Amazon
Acupressure is a Japanese healing method from the end of the 20th century that can be used to dissolve hardening in the long term. This is because the wafer-thin acupressure tips promote blood circulation in the deeper tissue via skin contact. This allows tense muscles and tissue structures to be relaxed with regular use.
Click here for the acupressure mat test.
✅ 100% natural, with coconut fibres from fair production
✅ Can be used everywhere: in the office, on the couch, in bed ...
✅ Set including pillow for the neck
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