Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

The most common causes of muscle pain are tension, stress, overuse and minor injuries. This type of pain is usually localized, affecting just a few muscles or a small part of your body.

Systemic muscle pain — pain throughout your whole body — is more often the result of an infection, an illness or a side effect of a medication.

Common causes of muscle pain include:

  1. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome
  2. Chronic fatigue syndrome
  3. Claudication
  4. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  5. Dermatomyositis
  6. Dystonia
  7. Fibromyalgia
  8. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
  9. Influenza (flu) and other viral illness (influenza-like illness)
  10. Lupus
  11. Lyme disease
  12. Medications, especially the cholesterol medications known as statins
  13. Muscle cramp
  14. Myofascial pain syndrome
  15. Polymyalgia rheumatica
  16. Polymyositis (inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness)
  17. Repetitive strain injuries
  18. Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
  19. Rocky Mountain spotted fever
  20. Sprains

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Dec. 21, 2021

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