MUSCLE TENSION, MUSCLE INJURY & JOINT PROBLEMS

Their Interrelationship

When a muscle is tense, it contracts.  A certain amount of muscle tension, makes us breathe, keeps our heart beating and allows us to move. But when we are not using a muscle, it needs to relax, stretch out and rest.  We don't always give our muscles a chance to do that. Chronic muscle tension can build up over the years from poor body alignment, muscle imbalance, physical and emotional stress, injuries, and poor biomechanics, or body movement. The function and structure of our spinal joints are directly affected by chronic muscle tension.

Chronic Muscle Tension And Strains

Chronic tension makes muscles and their movements rigid and stiff.  When muscles are stiff and brittle, they cannot absorb the stress of normal activity. They become more susceptible to strains and tears. Injured, or chronically contracted muscles tend to cause instability and decreased range of motion in the joints they move. When joints cannot function in a smooth and normal way they are subject to the degenerative diseases which accompany abnormal wear and tear. This relationship between brittle, inflexible muscles and altered joint function and alignment is apparent in spinal column problems. Fortunately, by realigning the affected joint and relaxing and stretching the tense muscles or muscle groups, this condition can usually be reversed.

Muscle Tension And Joint Alignment

Uneven tension, another result of chronically contracted muscles, can throw off your joint alignment. Muscles work in pairs.  When one side contracts, the other relaxes and stretches.  Your spine can be pulled out of alignment by uneven use and development of the back muscles. Conversely, joint misalignment can cause compensating tension in one part of a muscle pair.

Joint Problems

When joints are out of alignment, their functional relationship changes. If contracted muscles pull joints too close together, the joint surfaces can rub against each other.  The cartilage which protects the joint can erode and become rough and painful with movement.

 What Can You Do About Muscle Tension?

 One important thing you can do is give yourself time each day for a complete physical and mental relaxation.  Scan your body for muscle tension throughout the day. Teach your muscles to relax by progressively contracting and releasing them.  Try taking a one-minute back rest every hour. Either sitting or standing, pull your abdomen into your spine as you exhale your breath. Let your vertebrae curl forward from the tail until your chin comes into your throat. Release your belly. Let the fresh breath flow into your expanding back. While hanging there, with your back muscles releasing, take three more belly breaths, then come back up, stacking your vertebrae one by one from the base of your spine.  Have your chiropractor check your muscle strength for imbalances which can later lead to joint problems, and for existing misalignments which can cause an imbalance of muscle tension.

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