Next Level Neuro
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Where Body Tension Lives in the Brain:
Uncovering the Connection
Is the location of tension in your body pointing you to the area of the brain you may need to address?
I know everyone jumped here because, like me, you want the super-secret A, B, and C process to help your clients. We at Next Level Neuro understand that, but this A+B = C is a conditioning from our biomechanical roots. And if we are honest, has that panned out and taken pain away or increased our flexibility in chronically tight areas?
The answer is NO.
We will give you some answers below, but we want you to understand that A+B=C may not work for everyone. When you learn the neuro-assess and re-assess process in our Mentorship, you start to understand that what you give your client one week may not work the next.
As in everything we write, we could expand and expand on each topic we are giving you, but if we brush over general topics, you will start to see why we always say: Everything above the neck affects everything below the neck.
This specific talk is no different.
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.
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.
So let’s talk about tension in the body and do a quick overview of the positive aspects of tension versus the harmful aspects of tension so you can understand this from a neuro perspective.
The Positive Aspects of Tension
1. Postural Support and Alignment:
Tension helps maintain our body's posture and alignment. The muscles in our back, neck, and abdomen, for example, must maintain a certain level of tension to keep us upright and balanced. Without this tension, our bodies would lack the structural support needed to stand, walk, or even sit properly.
2. Joint Stability:
Tension in ligaments and tendons contributes to joint stability. This is particularly important in high-impact activities or movements that require precision, such as running, lifting weights, or playing sports.
Proper tension in these connective tissues helps protect the joints from injuries by ensuring they move correctly and efficiently.
3. Movement and Strength:
Tension is essential for generating movement and strength. When you contract your muscles, they create tension, which enables you to perform actions like lifting, pushing, or pulling. This controlled tension allows you to perform daily activities and exercise effectively, contributing to overall health and fitness.
4. Signal of Readiness:
In some cases, tension can be a signal that the body is ready for action. For example, athletes often experience a heightened sense of tension before a competition, which can enhance focus and performance. This type of tension is often referred to as "good stress" or eustress, which prepares the body for physical exertion or challenge.
When Tension Becomes Harmful
1. Chronic Tension and Pain:
While tension is a natural and necessary part of bodily function, chronic tension can lead to pain and discomfort. Conditions like chronic back pain, tension headaches, and repetitive strain injuries are often the result of prolonged muscle tension. This can occur due to factors like poor posture, overuse of muscles, or emotional stress.
2. Reduced Mobility and Flexibility:
Excessive or prolonged tension can restrict movement and flexibility. Tight muscles and stiff joints can make it difficult to move freely, limiting your range of motion and potentially leading to imbalances or compensatory movements. This can increase the risk of injury and negatively impact your quality of life.
3. Impact on Mental Health:
Physical tension is often accompanied by emotional or psychological tension. Chronic stress and anxiety can cause the body to tense up, leading to a vicious cycle of physical and mental discomfort. This can affect sleep, concentration, and overall well-being.
4. Impaired Circulation and Recovery:
Excessive tension can also impede blood flow and circulation. Tight muscles can constrict blood vessels, reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to tissues and slowing the removal of metabolic waste products. This can delay recovery from exercise or injury and contribute to muscle fatigue and soreness.
Tension in the body is a common experience, manifesting in various ways and affecting different muscle groups. This tension is often a response to the brain's interpretation of internal and external stimuli, which is the basis for Applied Neurology and what we do about it.
Understanding the neurological roots of tension can help us address and alleviate these issues more effectively. Below we are going to explore which parts of the brain are associated with body tension and how different systems in the body contribute to this phenomenon.
Examples of Tension and Related Systems
IT Band Tightness
Associated System: Ipsilateral Vestibular System
Brain's Role: When there's a lack of stability in the pelvis and spine, the brain compensates by increasing tension in the IT band. This tightness is often linked to vestibular issues on the same side of the body, reflecting the brain's attempt to maintain balance and stability.
Bilateral Muscle Tightness (Glutes, Hamstrings, Calves)
Associated System: Bilateral Vestibular or Visual System
Brain's Role: Bilateral tightness in muscles like the glutes, hamstrings, and calves is often related to issues in the vestibular or visual systems. The brain may slow down visual processing speed as a threat response, creating tension to stabilize the body and reduce perceived threats.
This mechanism helps to manage balance and coordination, but it can lead to chronic tightness.
Feet and Ankle Tension
Associated System: Visual System
Brain's Role: Tension in the feet and ankles is frequently connected to the visual system. The neurological connections between the foot and ankle joints and the hip muscles mean that visual input can significantly affect lower body tension.
Issues in visual processing can lead to increased tension as the body compensates to maintain stability and movement efficiency.
Upper Body Tension
Upper Traps, Neck, and Scapula
Associated System: Respiratory Patterns
Brain's Role: Poor respiratory patterns often cause tension in the upper traps, neck, and scapula. When breathing mechanics are inefficient, the brain signals these muscles to compensate, leading to increased tension and discomfort. This can result from stress, poor posture, or habitual shallow breathing.
Low Back and SI Joints
Associated System: Digestive Issues and Breathing Mechanics
Brain's Role: Tension in the lower back and sacroiliac (SI) joints is frequently linked to digestive issues and improper breathing mechanics. The brain responds to digestive distress and suboptimal breathing by increasing tension in these areas to protect the spine and core stability.
This can lead to chronic pain and restricted movement.
As you can see, understanding the brain's role in body tension is crucial for addressing and alleviating chronic tightness and discomfort. How we go about addressing this is a big part of our Mentorship program. As I mentioned above, this is never an A+B=C, but A+E=Z.
By identifying the associated systems and addressing underlying issues, such as vestibular and visual processing, respiratory patterns, and digestive health, we can effectively have a starting point to reduce tension and improve overall health.
More articles to enhance your education:
How Do I Know Which Area of the Brain to Train?
Why Vision Matters in Neuro Training
Training the Nervous System for Pain Relief
Do you have chronic pain you can’t relieve?
The Neuro Approach to Fitness Training
How Brain Training Enhances Athletic Performance
How Neuro Impacts Physical Therapy
The Science Behind Neuro Training
