Challenging Common Beliefs in the Fitness Industry: Tension

The Dual Nature of Tension In The Body: When It’s Good & When It’s Not

Have you ever wondered why your muscles feel tight? 🤔 Is it just from overuse or poor posture? Or could it respond to how your brain interprets internal and external stimuli?

Tension in the body is often viewed negatively, associated with stress, discomfort, and pain. However, tension is not inherently bad; it plays a crucial role in maintaining our physical health and function. Understanding the dual nature of tension—when it is beneficial and when it becomes detrimental—can help you manage it more effectively and improve your overall well-being.

Tension in the body is a sensation that everyone experiences at some point. Tension can manifest in various ways, whether it's the tightness in your shoulders after a long day at work or the stiffness in your legs after a workout.

However, tension isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it plays a crucial role in our body's functioning and later, we will explore what it's telling us about the inputs to our brain and what to do about it.

Reevaluating Tension

In the fitness industry, there’s a prevailing belief that all tight tissue is inherently problematic and should be released. However, tension in the body is not always detrimental; it plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and function. By understanding both the positive and negative aspects of tension, you can better guide your clients toward improved well-being and performance.

Long-Term vs. Short-Term Health

Focusing solely on short-term flexibility may come at the expense of long-term body and nervous system health. It’s essential to balance immediate gains with considerations for long-term stability and functionality to avoid potential issues.

Two Primary Purposes of Pain and Tension

1. Protective Mechanism

   - Tension serves as a protective shield for local tissues, joints, and overall balance. For example, IT band syndrome often causes pain and tightness as a protective response to maintain stability and avoid further injury.

2. Action Signal

   - Pain and tension act as signals from the brain indicating that a change is necessary. These signals alert us to unsafe conditions and prompt us to adjust our actions to prevent harm.

All Outputs Have a Purpose

Neurological Basis of Outputs

Every output from the brain—whether it's movement, thought, emotion, or sensory experience—has a purpose. These outputs are responses to internal and external stimuli designed to maintain balance and function.

Example 1: Pain and Movement Modification

When experiencing knee pain, the brain alters your running stride to minimize stress on the painful area. This modification helps protect the knee and prevent further discomfort.

Example 2: Athletic Performance

In sports, adjustments in movements, such as a golf swing, are driven by the brain's protective mechanisms or corrections. These outputs are aimed at enhancing performance and ensuring safety.

Digging Deeper into the Purpose of Outputs

Investigating the Why

When it comes to pain, tension, or other physical outputs from the body, it's essential to go beyond merely managing these symptoms. Instead, understanding the underlying reasons for these outputs offers a deeper insight into overall health and function. These outputs are not random; they are purposeful signals sent by the brain and nervous system, often as protective mechanisms or responses to perceived threats.

The Brain's Role in Generating Outputs

The brain is constantly processing information from both the internal and external environments. When it detects something potentially harmful, it sends signals that manifest as physical outputs—such as pain, tension, or discomfort—to alert you to take action. These outputs are the brain's way of maintaining your body's integrity and safety. For example, pain might indicate an injury that needs attention, while tension could signal that a particular area of your body is being overworked or is under threat.

Understanding the "Why" Behind the Outputs

By digging deeper into why these outputs occur, we can start to understand the brain's role in protecting the body. This understanding allows for more effective interventions that address the root cause rather than just alleviating the symptoms. For instance, if tension in the shoulders is a recurring issue, simply treating the tension with massage or stretching may provide temporary relief, but it doesn't address the underlying neural reasons for that tension.

Investigating the "why" might reveal that the tension is a response to chronic stress, poor posture, or even an emotional trigger.

The Dual Nature of Tension in the Body: When It’s Good & When It’s Not

Tension is often associated with stress and discomfort, but it also plays an essential role in maintaining physical health and function. Here’s a closer look at both the positive and negative aspects of tension:

The Good Side of Tension

1. Postural Support

   - Tension in muscles and connective tissues is vital for maintaining posture. Muscles in the back, neck, and core help align the spine, allowing for stable standing, sitting, and movement.

2. Joint Stability

   - Ligaments and tendons rely on a certain amount of tension to keep joints stable. This tension ensures joints remain properly aligned and function smoothly during various activities.

3. Movement Efficiency

   - Controlled tension in muscles supports efficient and coordinated movement. It aids in daily activities, exercise, and sports, providing the necessary precision and power.

4. Protection Mechanism

   - Tension acts as a protective response when the body senses potential injury. It stabilizes and shields the affected area, helping to prevent further damage and support healing.

When Tension Becomes Harmful

1. Chronic Tension and Pain

   - While tension is necessary, chronic tension can lead to pain and discomfort. Conditions such as chronic back pain, tension headaches, and repetitive strain injuries often result from prolonged muscle tension due to poor posture, overuse, or emotional stress.

2. Reduced Mobility and Flexibility

   - Excessive or prolonged tension can restrict movement and flexibility. Tight muscles and stiff joints limit your range of motion, increasing the risk of injury and negatively impacting your quality of life.

3. Impact on Mental Health

   - Physical tension often accompanies emotional or psychological tension. Chronic stress and anxiety can lead to a cycle of physical and mental discomfort, affecting sleep, concentration, and overall well-being.

4. Impaired Circulation and Recovery

   - Excessive tension can impede blood flow and circulation. Tight muscles can constrict blood vessels, reducing oxygen and nutrient supply to tissues and slowing recovery from exercise or injury.

5. Poor Posture

   - Prolonged poor posture, such as sitting at a desk for extended periods, can create imbalances and excessive tension in certain muscle groups. For example, hunching over a computer can cause tightness in the shoulders and upper back, leading to pain and restricted movement.

6. Injury and Compensation

   - Injuries can result in compensatory tension in surrounding muscles as the body tries to protect and stabilize the affected area. While this response is initially helpful, prolonged compensatory tension can lead to imbalances and secondary injuries. For instance, an ankle injury might increase tension in the calf and hip muscles, causing discomfort and impairing movement.

Tension is a natural and vital part of bodily function, contributing to postural support, joint stability, movement efficiency, and protection. Before we give ALL tension a bad rap, we need to understand what the body is telling us.