{"id":29356,"date":"2026-09-07T10:00:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T02:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/muscle-injuries-the-painful-spot-may-not-be-the-root-cause\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T18:37:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T10:37:09","slug":"muscle-injuries-the-painful-spot-may-not-be-the-root-cause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/muscle-injuries-the-painful-spot-may-not-be-the-root-cause\/","title":{"rendered":"Muscle and Tendon Injuries: The Source of Pain May Not Be Where It Hurts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Why Do Neck and Shoulder, Lower Back, and Knee Pain Keep Coming Back?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Many people have experienced something like this:<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">when the shoulder feels sore, we keep massaging the shoulder; when the lower back hurts, we keep pressing or massaging the lower back; when the knee feels uncomfortable, we use pain-relief patches, massage, or apply heat. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">These methods may provide some relief at the time, but a few days later, the pain comes back again. Over time, many people begin to wonder: Is my muscle too tight? Is the strain too severe? Or will I have to live with this pain forever?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">The truth is, sometimes the actual source of the problem may not be where you feel the pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29346\" src=\"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-1024x365.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-1024x365.png 1024w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-768x274.png 768w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-1536x548.png 1536w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-2048x731.png 2048w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-1080x385.png 1080w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-1280x457.png 1280w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-980x350.png 980w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-480x171.png 480w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u80a9\u9888\u8170\u80cc\u819d\u76d6\u75db-combine-600x214.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #008000;\">Why doesn\u2019t \u201cwhere it hurts\u201d always tell us where the problem is?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">We can think of pain as a signal from the body. It is similar to a fire alarm in a building\u2014the place where you hear the alarm is not necessarily where the actual problem is occurring.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">The same applies to the human body. When one part of the body becomes painful, it may be related not only to a local injury or overuse,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">but also to factors such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Poor posture over a long period of time<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 18px;\">Prolonged sitting or standing<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Repetitive movements<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Long-term muscle tension<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Limited joint mobility<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Compensation from other parts of the body<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Related.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Therefore, when pain keeps coming back, instead of only asking: \u201cWhere does it hurt?\u201d, we can also ask: <strong>\u201c<\/strong><strong>Why does it keep hurting here?<\/strong><strong>\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\"><strong>A Common Case: Why Does Neck and Shoulder Pain Keep Coming Back After Massage?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">A common example is a patient who works in an office and spends several hours every day in front of a computer.<br \/>\nWhile working, the head tends to move forward unconsciously, while the shoulders may also become elevated and tense.<br \/>\nAt first, the patient may only feel some mild soreness around the neck and shoulders. Over time, it may gradually develop into:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Increasing tightness around the neck and shoulders<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Stiffness at the back of the neck<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Reduced ease of neck movement<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Occasional discomfort around the head<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Temporary relief after massage<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Because massage provides temporary relief, the patient would massage the shoulders whenever the discomfort returned. After the massage, the shoulders would feel lighter and more relaxed. But a few days later, the pain would return.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Why does this happen?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Because the underlying issue may not simply be that \u201cthe shoulders are too tight.\u201d<br \/>\nIf the head and shoulders remain in the same position every day while working, the muscles around the neck and shoulders may continue to remain under tension. The area may feel relaxed after treatment, but after some time, the tension can gradually return.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\"><strong>It is like keeping your foot on the accelerator while expecting the car to slow down by itself.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Therefore, when dealing with this type of problem, it is important to look beyond the painful area. We may also need to assess the movement of the neck and shoulders, the condition of the chest and upper back, the movement of the shoulder blades, as well as the person\u2019s long-term posture and daily movement habits.<br \/>\nBecause the human body works as a whole.<br \/>\nSometimes, the shoulder is simply the place that \u201cspeaks up\u201d last.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-29349\" src=\"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-592x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-592x1024.jpg 592w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-173x300.jpg 173w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-768x1329.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-887x1536.jpg 887w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-1183x2048.jpg 1183w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-1080x1870.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-1280x2216.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-980x1696.jpg 980w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-480x831.jpg 480w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-600x1039.jpg 600w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u4eba\u7c7b\u8eab\u4f53\u6784\u9020-human-body-scaled.jpg 1479w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #993300;\"><strong>What Should We Really Pay Attention to When Dealing with Muscle and Tendon Problems?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Many people are used to the approach of \u201ctreat where it hurts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">This approach can certainly provide temporary relief in some situations. However, if the pain continues to return, it is worth looking further into the possible factors behind it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">First, we need to understand <strong>why it hurts.<\/strong><br \/>\nWas there a sudden injury? Or has there been long-term overuse? Is it related to excessive exercise? Or is it caused by performing the same movement repeatedly every day?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Second, we need to understand <strong>why the area remains tense. <\/strong><br \/>\nWhy does it seem unable to fully relax? Why does the tension return shortly after massage? Finally, we need to ask: <strong>\u201cWhy does the problem keep coming back?\u201d <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">If we remain stuck in the cycle of: Pain \u2192 Massage \u2192 Temporary relief \u2192 Pain returns \u2192 Massage again then perhaps the real question is not simply: \u201cHow can we make it feel better?\u201d but: <strong>\u201cWhy does this area keep needing to be massaged?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #800080;\"><strong>Massage Is Not Bad, But We Shouldn\u2019t Only Chase the Pain<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Massage, heat therapy, and appropriate stretching can help relieve certain types of muscle tension and overuse-related discomfort.<br \/>\nHowever, if every episode of pain is treated by repeatedly focusing only on the painful area, without trying to understand why the pain keeps returning, we may remain trapped in the cycle of: Pain \u2192 Relief \u2192 Pain again<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">So when pain keeps returning in the same area, it may be helpful to look at the problem from a different perspective. Especially when the pain has lasted for some time or continues to return despite repeated treatment, instead of constantly chasing the pain, it may be more useful to explore the factors that could be contributing to its recurrence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Muscle and Tendon Problems Are Not About <\/strong><strong>\u201cThe More Painful, the More Effective\u201d <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Another common misconception is: \u201cThe more painful the massage is, the more effective the treatment must be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">But this is not necessarily true. Treatment is not a competition to see how much pain a person can tolerate. When the body is already in a state of pain and tension, stronger or more aggressive stimulation does not necessarily mean better results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">What matters more is <strong>understanding where the problem may be coming from and choosing an appropriate approach. <\/strong>Different causes of pain, physical conditions, and levels of tolerance require different approaches. Treatment should not simply focus on making the stimulation as strong as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-29533\" src=\"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"570\" height=\"380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-1080x721.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-1280x854.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-980x654.jpg 980w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/vstcm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/\u75bc\u75db.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #99cc00;\"><strong>Look at Pain from a Different Perspective<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Pain can be a signal that a certain part of the body needs attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">So when an area keeps hurting, don\u2019t only ask: <strong>\u201cWhere does it hurt?\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\nAlso ask: <strong>\u201cWhy does it keep hurting here?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Don\u2019t only think: <strong>\u201cHow can I make the pain go away quickly?\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\nAlso consider: <strong>\u201cWhy does the pain keep coming back?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">When we begin to look for the factors behind recurring pain, the direction of further treatment and care can become clearer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Remember: The Painful Area Is Not Necessarily the Starting Point of the Problem<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Neck and shoulder pain does not always mean we should only look at the neck and shoulders, so as lower back and knee pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\"><strong>The human body works as a whole.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Sometimes, what needs attention is not the painful area itself, but the factors that are causing that area to work too hard or bear excessive load.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">Therefore, when pain keeps coming back, it can be helpful to look at the body as a whole rather than focusing only on the location of the pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #008080;\"><strong>If You Are Experiencing Persistent Pain<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">If you are experiencing recurring discomfort in the neck and shoulders, lower back, knees, or other parts of the body, don\u2019t simply put up with it or focus only on treating the painful area each time. It may be helpful to understand more about when the pain started, which movements make it worse, why it tends to return even after rest, and whether there may be long-term tension or compensation involving other parts of the body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">By identifying the factors that may be contributing to recurring pain, we can better understand the direction of further care and treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\">If you are experiencing problems such as muscle and tendon injuries, muscle tightness, neck and shoulder pain, or lower back and back pain, you are welcome to visit <strong>Visions TCM. <\/strong>We will assess your condition based on your individual situation, look at your body as a whole, identify factors that may be related to recurring pain, and provide an appropriate, personalised approach to care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #000000;\"><strong>It\u2019s not just about treating <\/strong><strong>\u201cwhere it hurts.<\/strong><strong>\u201d <\/strong><strong>More importantly, it is about understanding <\/strong><strong>\u201c<\/strong><strong>why it keeps hurting.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Do Neck and Shoulder, Lower Back, and Knee Pain Keep Coming Back? Many people have experienced something like this: when the shoulder feels sore, we keep massaging the shoulder; when the lower back hurts, we keep pressing or massaging the lower back; when the knee feels uncomfortable, we use pain-relief patches, massage, or apply [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":29353,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[439,2284],"tags":[2293,2288,2290,2287,444,1673,1669,1671,593,590,705,1670,594,1931,701,1675,693,694,1672,699,458,700,467,704,703,469,717],"class_list":["post-29356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tcm-health-preservation-en","category--en","tag-kawasan-yang-sakit-tidak-semestinya-punca-masalah-en","tag-kecederaan-otot-tendon","tag-muscle-injuries-the-painful-spot-may-not-be-the-root-cause-en","tag-muscle-injuries-the-painful-spot-may-not-be-the-root-cause","tag-selangor-en","tag-setia-alam-en","tag-setia-alam-tcm-en","tag-setia-alam--en","tag-shah-alam--en","tag-tcm-en","tag-tcm-knowledge-en","tag-tcm-setia-alam-en","tag-tcm-shah-alam-en","tag-traditional-chinese-medicine-setia-alam-en","tag-visions-tcm-branch-en","tag-visions-tcm-setia-alam-en","tag--en","tag--selangor-en","tag--setia-alam-en","tag--shah-alam-en","tag---en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29356"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29542,"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29356\/revisions\/29542"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vstcm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}