Healthy Life
Why do I have muscle tension?
by Uperform
Do you sometimes feel like your movements are limited?
Do you sometimes feel that your movements seem uncomfortable, even unpleasant?
Do you sometimes feel that certain parts of your body are never released?
AND IF WE TOLD YOU THAT ALL OF THIS IS JUST A SENSATION, WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?
Sensations of muscle tension are often unpleasant sensations, just bearable enough not to be called pain.
They are only rarely related to real muscular mechanical properties such as stiffness or excessive tension. It is common to hear people complaining of muscle tension in the back of their thighs but managing to touch the ground with their hands.
On the other hand, it is also common that very stiff people never complain of unpleasant muscle tension.
WHY THEN DO MUSCLES SEEM TIGHT WHEN THEY REALLY ARE NOT?
To better understand it, it may be useful to remember how pain works (see corresponding article). Pain is an unpleasant sensation that can exist in the absence of tissue damage. It is a perception of threat, an impression that the body is in danger but which may not be linked to an actual injury.
Sensations of muscle tension work the same way. They do not tell us that the muscles are potentially in danger but that they are perhaps too activated, due to repeated effort too many times. They can also tell us that the muscle needs movement, that it has remained static for too long. In summary, pain is a sensation that forces us to avoid certain movements and tension pushes us to get back in motion.
HOW TO GET AWAY FROM THESE UNPLEASANT SENSATIONS? Here is a list of treatment options that can remedy these sensations:
–Mobility exercises
In some cases, simple stretching can relieve you. Keep in mind that this is about modulating a sensation and not about making a muscle actually longer. It is therefore advisable to avoid aggressive stretching which can make the situation worse.
– Soft tissue techniques
Massage and foam roller could give you the long-awaited relief! Not because they come to break your adhesions or relax your fascias but by activating painkillers naturally present in your body. Here again, be careful not to force these techniques which could make the situation worse by making the feelings of tension all the more unpleasant. These
techniques, although effective in the short term, generally do not offer a lasting effect.
– Motor control exercises
It is about modifying the way of making a movement to make it more efficient and eliminate some of these “parasitic” components. There are several forms of motor control and your Upperform physiotherapist can help you find the one that suits your needs!
– Muscle strengthening
Some people associate building muscle with getting stiffer. This is among the most common misconceptions and misconceptions in public health. What if we told you it’s just the opposite? Muscle building, especially when done in
all muscle amplitude, improves flexibility … sometimes more effectively than with stretching!
To conclude, keep in mind that muscle tensions are sensations and not mechanical problems that must be solved with great blows of aggressive techniques. These sensations will improve with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity. If these sensations persist, your Uperform physiotherapist will help you find the solution that suits you.
We care, u perform.
Cet article est basé sur le blog « Why do muscle feel tight » de Todd Hargrove https://www.physio-network.com/blog/why-do-muscles-feel-tight/