Before you begin to treat muscle pain and soreness, people must first understand how a human muscular system works. There are three main groups of muscles. The first group is skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles are used to move your bones. They are called voluntary muscles because a human decides when to use them. An example would be the muscles in your legs like quadriceps or an arm muscle like the bicep.

The second group is made up of the cardiac muscle, or heart. This muscle supports basic human life by pumping blood through the human body. This is an involuntary muscle. The third group is called smooth muscles and control internal movements, such as moving food through the intestines. These muscles also appear in blood vessels where they help with blood flow. These muscles are also involuntary.

The pain we experience from muscle soreness or inflammation deals with the skeletal muscle system or voluntary muscles. With that said, it is no wonder why the medications sued to treat muscle pain are called skeletal muscle relaxants or SMR's. Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to help relax these muscles, ease pain and reduce stiffness. They are also used to treat injuries or other conditions related to muscle pain.

Back pain is one of the most common forms of muscle pain and may come as the result of an injury or as a side effect of another condition. A doctor may prescribe rest, physical therapy and/or a pain medication such as a muscle relaxant. It is always recommend that you talk to a doctor before taking medication. In the case of muscle spasms, a muscle relaxant may be prescribed for a short time, or three to four days. Additionally, a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, is often recommended to serve as pain relievers and to decrease muscle inflammation. If pain is severe, a doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant to go along with the anti-inflammatory drug.

Additional muscle strains and sprains also result in muscle pain, stiffness and spasms. Muscle relaxants do not heal these injuries but help ease the discomfort and stop muscle spasms. Muscle relaxants are also sometimes used to treat Fibromyalgia, a condition that involves aches, stiffness and tiredness.